‘Show your intelligence!’ – Shanghai coach Pereira feels heat

SHANGHAI: Shanghai SIPG coach Vitor Pereira came under growing pressure on Thursday after his expensively- assembled team suf fered their second damaging defeat in a week, with their season threatening to unravel fast.

“Show your intel ligence!” blasted Soccer News, urging the Portuguese to rotate his squad as players toil under the weight of two matches a week in the Chinese Super League, Asian Champions League and Chinese FA Cup.

On Wednesday, an SIPG team boasting 60- million- euro Brazilian signing Oscar lost 3-1 at Japan’s Kashima Antlers in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie, four days after a 2-1 home defeat by Beijing Guoan in the Chinese Super League.

Pereira’s side still top the CSL on goal difference with a third of the season gone, but they have now failed to win in four games in all competitions and their blistering early season form has vanished.

Pereira, who replaced fellow Portuguese coach Andre VillasBoas in the close season, was particularly disappointed at the soft goals they conceded against Kashima, including two from corners and an own goal.

“We conceded too easi ly,” said the 49- year- old, who led 1860 Munich to relegation from Germany’s second tier in his previous job.

“We conceded from two corner kicks, which is not normal. In the past we rarely made such mistakes on corner kicks and we need to correct these errors in the next match.”

Pereira, whose side was missing the injured 56- mi l lion- euro Brazilian striker Hulk, admitted that his players were “tired”.

“What we can do now is to keep moving forward and strive to do better,” he added. — AFP