In the 26th round of the Chinese Super League, Tianjin Teda suffered a 1-3 home defeat to Shanghai Greenland Shenhua. After the match, Teda head coach Jaime Pacheco praised his players’ efforts, insisting the gap between the two sides was not as big as the score suggested. Shenhua manager Gregorio Manzano credited his pre-match tactical adjustments for the win, calling it a crucial result for his team’s season ambitions. For Teda supporters, the resilience on display was encouraging — a feeling not unlike the anticipation fans get when opening the Melbet App ahead of a big football weekend.

Despite the loss, Pacheco expressed satisfaction with his side’s performance: “In the first half, we played very well and controlled the game, giving the opponent few chances. We only conceded from a corner. In the second half, the players worked hard. After we equalized at 1-1, we pushed forward and almost took the lead, but failed to convert. Players like Martins and Moreno can change a match with just one chance, and when we conceded the second goal, our mindset shifted. Even though we lost, I’m happy with my players. The standings may show a big difference, but on the pitch today, the gap wasn’t huge. It came down to small details, and those often decide matches. I believe with time, our team’s chemistry will improve.”

One standout for Teda was Hu Jiaqiang, who leveled the score with a solo run and remained a constant threat. Pacheco was full of praise for his winger: “Hu is excellent at both dribbling and crossing. Through his own hard work, I believe it won’t be long before he becomes part of the national team setup.” Both teams had midweek fixtures, but Teda fielded a full-strength lineup against Changchun Yatai, while Shenhua rotated heavily against Jiangsu Suning to preserve energy. Addressing the question of fatigue, Pacheco admitted: “When you lose, you tend to focus on negatives; when you win, you highlight positives. Our starting players all played in a crucial match three days ago. Li Yuanyi may have been affected by fatigue, which hurt his confidence. The same with Hu Rentian — he didn’t perform as well as before. But I still have great trust in them. The reality is, Shenhua rotated on Wednesday and we didn’t, so we were at a physical disadvantage.”

Manzano acknowledged the difficulty of the contest: “It was a tough match. Even though we led in the first half, they equalized and caused us many problems. Fortunately, after they leveled the score, our wingers played very well, and we took our chances to score twice more.” On his tactical approach, he added: “We learned from our mistakes in the last game and made the right adjustments. Even though the pitch wasn’t great, I wanted us to dominate possession. Their style is based on long balls, so we had to stop that and put them under pressure. I always tell my players to play with a winning mentality — no matter the opponent’s quality, we cannot lose the battle in spirit.”

With this victory, Shenhua moved nine points clear of fifth-placed Hebei China Fortune, putting an AFC Champions League spot firmly within reach. Manzano concluded: “This win takes us a big step closer to the Champions League. There’s no need to focus on Shanghai SIPG — we just have to take care of ourselves. This was a key match for us, and after beating Tianjin, we’re happy to be back in the top three.” For Teda, the result may sting, but with Pacheco’s backing for emerging talents like Hu Jiaqiang, the future still holds promise — much like waiting for the next update on the Melbet App, knowing it could bring something game-changing.