Written by Zuo Rui The May campaign ended, and everyone in Zhejiang Team felt relieved. Thanks to a lucky 2-0 win away in Zhengzhou—a place they hadn't beaten in 14 years—head coach Ross Aloisi guided the team to quickly heal and recover, seizing a comprehensive revival chance just before the league's second half began.

These 14 points were hard-earned

After the first half of the season, Zhejiang Team had 6 wins, 4 draws, and 5 losses, ranking seventh in the Chinese Super League. In May's seven matches, they achieved 4 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss, grabbing 14 points—nearly double their performance from the first eight rounds. Compared to all other CSL opponents over the same period, this total was second only to the 15 points secured by Rongcheng, led by Ross's younger brother John.

If not for a controversial last-minute penalty in Round 11 against Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, which turned an almost certain 3 points into just 1, Zhejiang Team's May record would have been the best in the league. Moreover, if not for the glaring and "unacceptable" 0-5 defeat to Ironmen in Round 14, the team's monthly performance would have been brilliant. After all, back in April they had just 1 draw and 4 losses, scoring zero goals.

These two home games felt like thorns in Ross's side, making him especially frustrated. Yet when the tough May journey ended with a victory, he still faced it calmly: "In May, we earned four wins, two draws, and one loss." He remained proud of his players' efforts for finishing the first half of the league in such a manner.

Suffering an unprecedented 5-goal loss in top-flight history on his watch infuriated Ross and also dealt a heavy blow to the players. Afterwards, the coaching staff and squad conducted thorough reviews and communication, quickly boosting morale. Before heading to Zhengzhou as visitors, they still "had expectations."

The final match of the first half was an extremely hard-fought victory. Henan Team dominated throughout, but saw goals disallowed for offside, a penalty overturned due to a violation, and a miraculous post save by their own goal frame. Conversely, Zhejiang Team never managed smooth coordination or crisp passing, but their very first shot saw Mitrić blast in a world-class goal, followed by Zhao Bo's series of stunning saves and Tao Qianglong's match-sealing strike.

"After suffering that last defeat, facing a Henan Team on a three-game winning streak, this victory was incredibly tough," Ross told the players as they gathered in a circle on the pitch after the match. He emphasized that the key to persevering under such passive circumstances and ultimately winning was that "everyone's effort and fighting spirit were spot on."

In his view, the league is long and cruel, but it is also fair to every team that grits its teeth and pushes forward. You can be pegged back or hammered when you dominate the game, or you can win while being completely outplayed—that's football. Victory depends not only on luck but also on the team's collective hard work and persistence.

The more experienced players understand the head coach's viewpoint all too well. After the 0-5 loss, Cheng Jin said frankly, "The schedule is intense—it's the same for every team." And during the dark days before the May campaign—when the team had 4 losses and 1 draw in the previous 5 rounds, with five main players either injured or suspended—he also shared his confidence with those around him: once the squad was fully assembled in May, it would be the perfect chance for the rebound.

Facing the challenge of a two-front campaign

Objectively speaking, in the match where they disappointingly drew 1-1 after almost winning, Tianjin Jinmen Tiger had chances before the equalizer. And before the humiliating 0-5 defeat, Zhejiang Team was trailing by three goals but still showed determination and signs of a comeback. However, these two games happened right after a 2-1 comeback win over Yunnan and a 4-1 thrashing of Shandong Taishan, making it hard for both the team and fans to avoid a huge psychological gap.

Zhejiang Team's May campaign was a rollercoaster of extreme highs and lows. Fortunately, just before the break, they managed to get back on track through relentless effort. A week's holiday was not short, but after regrouping, there was less than two weeks before the FA Cup match against Shaanxi United. With seven players called up by the national team and the Olympic squad, Ross had limited personnel and time to mold the team.

"We need to maintain our focus after the break," Ross said. Facing a two-front battle between the league and the cup, one of his upcoming priorities is to develop bench depth and implement proper rotation. Judging by the current situation, the contingency plan to fill the midfield gap left by Park Jin-su's World Cup participation has shown initial results—players like Zhang Jiaqi and Wu Wei have been performing steadily in the defensive midfield role.

Although the forward and defensive lines are packed with talent, based on the just-concluded May campaign, neither has met Ross's expectations. The facts of 20 goals scored and 23 conceded in the first half of the season, while not shocking, are hard to ignore. The weakness in one-on-one defending exposed by the 0-5 rout also imposes higher demands on midfielders' defensive support.

The front-line issue remains unresolved even after Mitrić's return. Guarirapa, the designated center forward, only made two substitute appearances and one full start throughout May due to suspensions and injuries—far from meeting the expectations of the team, the outside world, and the player himself. The only slightly reassuring sign is that since his full return in Round 15, he has committed fouls on opponents at least three times in the attacking third and won a number of first-contact headers on long balls, partially fulfilling his role as the offensive pivot.