Kitchee demolished as Huang Yang says goodbye

credits to Nathan

Kitchee rounded up their preseason preparations with a 6-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid at Hong Kong Stadium. In front of over fifteen thousand fans, Kitchee took on major European opposition for the first time since Manchester City's visit in 2019. Huang Yang brought his professional career to a close in the 19th minute.

Lineups

Kitchee started five of their summer signings, with the remaining four on the bench. With it being a friendly in sweltering heat, all came on as Kitchee made eleven subs throughout the game. Helio and Sohgo Ichikawa were absent through injury, while Kim Shin-wook continued to be absent, with many fans hoping his contract is terminated soon, as he takes up a substantial part of the club's wage bill.

Talley (Wang 79); Bae (Law 61), Haddow (Kam 80), Jones (Bardanca 69), Fernando (Lam 69); Lok (Lung 61), Huang (Ngan 19), Juninho (Rey 69); Machado (Poon 69), Temirov (Welthon 69) Mingazow (Chen 80)

credits to Nathan

While Atletico Madrid missed Antoine Griezmann and Jan Oblak, as well as new signing Conor Gallagher, they were still able to put out a side with considerable quality. Chelsea legend Cesar Azpilicueta and Belgian veteran Axel Witsel were the biggest names on show, with club icon Koke captaining from central midfield. This experience was complemented by World Cup winner Angel Correa and Belgian wonderkid Arthur Vermeeren, alongside a host of other internationals.

Match events

credits to Nathan

The match started badly for Kitchee with Atletico's new signing Alexander Sorloth tapping in from inside the six yard box, after good work by Portuguese forward Joao Felix. Almost immediately, Fynn Talley's pass out hit Tan Chun-lok, and the rebound fell very kindly to Sorloth, who lobbed Talley. A dream start for the Norwegian striker on his first appearance in Atletico colours. Atletico continued to show their class, while also reducing their intensity, but Kitchee started to have some chances, with Mingazow and Juninho both going close. Luis Machado thought he'd pulled one back, but the whistle had already been blown for a foul by Temirov, before Fernando came close to heading in Ngan Cheuk-pan's cross. 2-0 down at half time, but Kitchee had had some bright spells.

Atletico Madrid made a host of changes at half time, and extended their lead early on through Carlos Martin, despite the best efforts of Tan Chun-lok. Just after the hour the Spanish giants scored again from a corner; an own goal by Ngan Cheuk-pan, despite his efforts (and Talley's) to prevent the ball going over the line. Sherzod Temirov pulled one back with a nice finish from the right hand side, before Kitchee's remaining signings were introduced. But the temporary joy was short-lived as Nino restored the four goal advantage in the seventy first minute. Atletico continued to dominate into the closing stages, with French World Cup winner Thomas Lemar rounding off the 6-1 win.

Thoughts for the season

credits to Tony

Atletico Madrid reached the quarter finals of the Champions League last season, losing to eventual runners up Borussia Dortmund. In comparison Kitchee finished fourth in the HKPL. So it is hard to tell how much to read in to a humbling defeat to such superior opposition. There were bright sparks for Kitchee; Temirov scored a nice goal and worked hard, and there were promising contributions from Luis Machado and Juninho offensively. However, Mingazow looked exhausted and drifted out of the game, and the defence were bullied by Sorloth in the first half, although Sorloth is significantly better and taller than strikers based in Hong Kong currently. Kitchee had other chances to score, but so did Atletico, who were not playing at full intensity and still had far too much.

Talley in goal made some good saves, but it was his poor clearance that lead to Sorloth's second goal. He will be first choice, with three competing to be his backup. Kitchee have two solid options at both full back positions with no clear first choice; Law and Bae on the right and Fernando and Jordan Lam on the left. 

credits to Nathan

At centre back, the pairing Lok On and Jay Haddow has been preferred in preseason, but both players are under six feet tall, giving us a lack of height at the back. Helio and Bardanca offer more height and experience, but the former is nearly thirty nine (and has not featured at all in preseason) and the latter looked rusty in his preseason appearances (and was limited owing to returning to Spain for the birth of his child). Haddow's best position is right back, but with two other possible options and Helio's age, it is likely the youngster plays a lot at centre back. Expect to see chopping and changing across the defence, depending on the opposition and balance of the side. Kitchee will probably play Talley in goal, Rey in midfield and an all foreign front three, meaning only one foreign defender can start, although we assume Jay Haddow will obtain his Hong Kong passport as the season goes on. 

Midfield probably has the most question marks, with four leaving in the summer. Tan Chun-lok will start most games, probably in the defensive midfield role, with Juninho (who impressed this game) and new signing Aaron Rey probably alongside him, neither of whom are conventional central midfielders. Ngan Cheuk-pan can give more defensive solidity when needed, but is unlikely to start regularly. Cheng Chin-lung and Sohgo Ichikawa offer more options.

credits to Nathan

Up front, Mingazow and Machado are likely to be the first choice wingers, with fans hoping for a return to first season form for Mingazow, where he won player of the year. Temirov has looked good in preseason through the middle, although based on his career to date new signing Welthon is probably a better player. Expect the pair to rotate with their differing strengths; Temirov is a workhorse but lacks the goals that Welthon is expected to provide. Poon Pui-hin will get minutes across the front three, allowing us to start another foreigner in defence. There will likely be minutes for youngsters Matthew Slattery and Chen Ngo-hin, especially in cup competitions.

On the leadership side, Helio makes the predicted step up to club captain, assisted by Law Tsz-chun, Fernando and Tan Chun-lok as vice captains. The squad is significantly younger than last campaign, but still has experienced figures in the dressing room such as Wang Zhenpeng to guide this refreshed squad to a much better season than 2023-24.

The 2024-25 season dawns near, although traditional HKFA disorganisation means we are yet to have a confirmed start date.

Written by Adam O'Domhnaill

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