August 24: Zheng Zhi Leads Qingdao West Coast to 2-0 Win Over Taishan and Shows Composure as a Top Domestic Coach

On August 23 Beijing time, the Qilu Derby in the 24th round of the Chinese Super League became a major matchup, with Qingdao West Coast hosting an in-form Shandong Taishan side. The game was a key battle in the standings, with Taishan entering the match on a three-game winning streak and holding strong hopes of pushing for an AFC Champions League spot. West Coast started quickly, with Aziz capitalizing on a goalkeeper mistake to score an early goal. In the second half, Davidson sealed the victory with a superb free kick, as Qingdao West Coast defeated Shandong Taishan 2-0. A confrontation broke out between the two sides late in the match, with Peng Xinli and Madruga receiving red cards. After the derby victory, West Coast maintained an unbeaten home record and took control of its own push for an AFC Champions League place.

In this Qilu Derby, the coaching abilities of the two domestic managers were highlighted. Zheng Zhi had thoroughly studied Taishan's attacking patterns before the match and did not blindly pursue possession. Instead, he focused on defensive stability and quick counterattacks, making full use of the impact provided by foreign players. After taking the lead, he remained calm on the sideline, avoided an overly aggressive approach, and repeatedly instructed his players to tighten the defensive shape and limit counterattacking opportunities. Under Tang Tian, Shandong Taishan had more possession, but their attacking tempo was slow, and they struggled to break through West Coast's targeted defensive setup. Their substitutions after falling behind came relatively late, making it difficult to break down the compact defense. Even after securing the win, Zheng Zhi stayed composed and was not carried away by the derby result, a quality that is rare among domestic coaches.

Since taking charge of Qingdao West Coast this season, Zheng Zhi's coaching journey has been full of challenges. At the start of the campaign, the team had limited squad strength and also lost key players, leading to a poor opening record and widespread outside doubts about his prospects. However, Zheng Zhi was not affected by the criticism. He adjusted his tactical approach, abandoned an ineffective possession-based style, built a practical defensive counterattacking system, and boldly promoted young players while improving the performances of both domestic and foreign players. The team gradually recovered, produced an impressive unbeaten run, and moved from a side aiming mainly for survival to one competing near the top of the league with the ability to challenge for an AFC Champions League place. Compared with Jiayi Shao's previous season achievement of leading the team to safety, Zheng Zhi has raised the team's ceiling under existing conditions and delivered an answer beyond expectations.

Across the Chinese Super League, the environment for domestic coaches remains challenging, with public opinion often magnifying mistakes while overlooking the difficulties behind coaching work. Zheng Zhi, who achieved great success as a player, did not rely on his former reputation after moving into management. Instead, he focused on developing tactics and studying opponents. He has the courage to make changes while also maintaining rationality after victories and avoiding overestimating the importance of a single result. The season is not over, and West Coast still faces a demanding schedule ahead. To secure an AFC Champions League qualification place, the team cannot afford to relax. Nevertheless, after winning this difficult Qilu Derby, Zheng Zhi has shown that high-level domestic coaches can emerge, and his development as a manager provides more reference and encouragement for Chinese coaches.