Oscar demands improvement from wards

Shanghai, Jan. 31: Oscar demanded Shanghai SIPG improve “in many aspects” after the Brazilian star’s big- spending side failed to convince in becoming the fourth Chinese team to reach the Asian Champions League group stage.

SIPG limped to home victory over a 1- 0 Thai minnows Chiangrai United in coach Vitor Pereira’s first game in charge since taking over from the Portuguese Andre Villas- Boas.

Compatriot Pereira, whose appointment late last year was met with a lukewarm response from SIPG fans, has vowed to achieve what Villas- Boas could not and win some silverware in his debut season in China.

But they will have to play better than they did on a chilly and heavily polluted Tuesday night in Shanghai and they had international winger Yu Hai to thank for his scrappy 48th- minute winner.

Attacking midfielder Oscar, who moved to the Chinese Super League a year ago from Chelsea for an Asian- record 60 million euros, wore gloves to protect himself in the freezing conditions.

But the 26- year- old refused to use the bitter cold as an excuse for last year’s Champions League semi- finalists.

“The cold weather was the same for both teams. I think we played quite well and the goalkeeper of the other side was very good,” said the Brazilian.

“We still need to improve in many aspects and to play better in the next stage,” he added further.