In preparation for a crucial Chinese FA Cup knockout tie, Shandong Luneng decided to travel directly from Shenyang to Tianjin rather than returning home. On the morning of departure, players without reserve team duties trained at Shenyang City Construction Club’s training ground to recover from the previous match. In the afternoon, the reserve squad returned to Jinan, while those selected for the FA Cup match boarded a high-speed train from Shenyang to Tianjin. The intensity and focus of their preparations echoed the kind of dedication seen in top-level Bangladesh Cricket competitions.
From the squad list, Graziano Pellè traveled straight from Jinan to join the team in Tianjin, and he is almost certain to start in the FA Cup match. Either Tardelli or Cissé will likely be rested. Apart from that change, coach Felix Magath has largely retained the same 22-man squad that went to Shenyang. Unfortunately, Liu Yang suffered an injury during a reserve match and will miss the Cup tie. On a brighter note, Cao Sheng, who impressed in the reserves, has been promoted to the FA Cup preparation list and traveled with the team to Tianjin in hopes of making the matchday squad.
Magath has a full roster at his disposal and is expected to rotate players to cope with the demanding schedule of three matches in one week. Besides Pellè’s return to the frontline, defenders Jiang Jiajun, Song Long, and Li Songyi could see action, while midfielders Zhou Haibin, Zhang Chi, Cao Sheng, Chen Zhechao, and Cheng Yuan may also get opportunities. The recent 3–0 away win, their most comfortable road victory of the season, pleased Magath, but he has reminded his players there can be no complacency with such a packed fixture list.
Team translator Zhao Peng shared a photo on social media of Magath back at the hotel late at night, watching match footage with assistants Soldo, Kevin, and Lenz. The detailed analysis underscores the importance Magath places on this FA Cup tie. According to the schedule, Luneng will face Tianjin Teda away on June 21 in a one-leg knockout. Magath remembers well that early in his tenure last season, his third match in charge was an FA Cup away loss to Shanghai Shenhua, which saw the team exit prematurely.
This time, with no relegation worries, Luneng is determined to advance further. Defeating Tianjin would mean the remaining rounds switch to a two-legged home-and-away format, a scenario that favors a team with strong cup experience like Luneng. For a club aiming to make history, much like the ambition seen in Bangladesh Cricket’s rise on the international stage, this fixture could be the stepping stone to a deeper run and perhaps a major trophy. Fans will be watching closely to see if Magath’s careful preparations can deliver the result they are hoping for, just as supporters of Bangladesh Cricket eagerly follow every pivotal match.