Guangzhou R&F sacks Romanian coach Contra
Print Edition
GUANGZHOU R&F has sacked Romanian coach Cosmin Contra after a dreadful run of form in the Chinese Super League, the club announced yesterday.
Guangzhou finished third in last year’s Chinese Super League and played in the 2015 Asian Champions League but it has struggled in the domestic championship this season.
After one win in its last 13 league matches, Guangzhou is 11th in the standings with 21 points from 20 games, only three points above the relegation zone. Contra, who made a bright start to his coaching career and led Petrolul Ploiesti to a Romanian Cup triumph in 2013, took over at Guangzhou in December after leaving Spanish club Getafe.
The 39-year-old, capped 73 times by Romania between 1996 and 2010, enjoyed a successful playing career with several clubs including AC Milan, Atletico Madrid and Getafe.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola believes that the incessant gossip about players who might be leaving Bayern Munich has meant that the immediate impact of the just-arrived Douglas Costa has gone unnoticed.
The Bayern manager tried to put that right yesterday as the German giant arrived in the bustling southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou.
“He has great one-on-one skills, he is strong, he gives us options and he will just keep on improving,” Guardiola said of Costa.
But the Brazilian may again be overshadowed today, this time by his superstar countryman Robinho who is set to make his debut for Bayern’s opponent Guangzhou Evergrande.
Costa, a 30 million euro (US$32.7 million) signing from Shakhtar Donetsk, has starred for Bayern on its so-far victorious tour of China.
A 1-4 defeat of Valencia in Beijing on Saturday was followed by a 1-0 win against Inter Milan in Shanghai on Tuesday with the 24-year-old Costa a constant threat on the flanks.
“We have been adjusting the way we have been playing and I am happy with the results,” said Guardiola. “The players are improving their physical conditioning. We have welcomed Douglas Costa into the team and you can already see what he will add to us.”
Guangzhou Evergrande, coached since last month by Luiz Felipe Scolari, is a team Bayern last met in 2013 when it won 3-0 in the FIFA Club World Club semifinal. Brazilian Scolari has bolstered his squad with compatriots Paulinho. the 26-year-old was a 14 million euro (US$15.2 million) signing from Tottenham Hotspur, and the 31-year-old Robinho, who arrived from Santos for a six-month contract on a free transfer.
Scolari revealed Robinho had only landed in China on Tuesday but would play at least a half against the Germans as he looked to ease the player into both fitness and formation.
“He needs a run out and he is a player who will fit the style of football we are trying to achieve here,” said Scolari.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
