Tianjin Greys secured promotion to the Chinese Super League (CSL) with a 2-1 win over Shandong Luneng on Saturday night in a crucial match for their survival.
The victory came after a dramatic finish that saw Tianjin put up a spirited fight against a resilient Shandong team, ultimately coming out victorious despite a late equalizer by Shandong's goalkeeper.
Manager Liu Jingbo was relieved of his duties following the game, and while he may have been disappointed with the result, it was clear that his efforts were not in vain as the team continues to show signs of improvement under his guidance.
"Today was a great day for our club," said Liu, who is widely regarded as one of China's top coaches. "We had a tough match against Shandong but we fought hard and managed to come back from a two-goal deficit to win."
Despite the loss, Liu expressed confidence in his players' ability to bounce back stronger next season. "We will continue to work hard and improve every day, and I am confident that we can make some progress this year," he added.
In addition to Liu, coach Liang Zhenyu also took a leave of absence due to personal reasons. Despite the setback, both coaches remain optimistic about their future plans and hope that they can help their club achieve greater success in the future.
As the season progresses, it remains to be seen how Tianjin Greys will fare against teams in the CSL. However, with strong performances under their management and continued commitment to improving, the team has a good chance of making it to the top tier of Chinese football.