Foreign coaches struggle in Chinese soccer league

 　　GUANGZHOU, South China, April 13 (Xinhua) -- It could become the darkest night for some foreign coaches in Chinese Super League (CSL).

　　The most famous three foreign coaches in CSL, Takeshi Okada, Jean Tigana and Henk ten Cate would spend an anxious weekend in fear of finding their seats already taken by someone after they come back to their offices on Monday as they all lost their vital matches here on Friday night.

　　Takeshi Okada, who had become world famous for leading Japanese first World Cup in 1998, found his team Hangzhou in the bottom three with six games played after losing 3-1 in their away match against defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande in CSL here on Friday night.

　　"I think it was too early to make a judgment¹ now. We are adjusting ourselves to find the most appropriate forms and tactics; the most important thing is we are making improvement," he said after the match.

　　However, time is running out for the 55-year-old Japanese, who said a month ago he was always getting ready to be fired as a professional coach.

　　"I am always getting ready to be fired, because I should be responsible for my job," he said after his debut² match against Qingdao in March.

　　After that, Hangzhou only managed to achieve four points from 5 matches as they only got one victory and a draw.

　　Okada is on the edge, while Frenchman Jean Tigana made a usual absence and many believed it was the final farewell to his home team on Friday night before Shanghai lost 1-0 to Tianjin at home and ranked 12th in CSL.

　　The 56-year-old Frenchman left his seat and took a taxi off the stadium just before the match kicked off, leaving the players headless chickens in the field.

　　Tigana's departure followed the sacking of his assistants and another Frenchman Nicolas Anelka took charge as the team's assistant coach.

　　"He was not sacked; he rushed home only to make a summery of his job in the first five matches," said Yan Xiang, deputy manage of Shanghai team after the match.

　　A radio channel in Shanghai even launched "paging program" for the "missing Frenchman," hoping to pick out Tigana's taxi driver and locate the Frenchman's destination.

　　"Tigana certainly will lose his job, the club even didn't arrange a car for him when he left the stadium, it was usual," a local reporter said.

　　Henk ten Cate, who has an even more brilliant CV with experience of Ajax manager and Barcelona assistant coach, could not escape the same fate.

　　"I do not talk much about referees⁴ usually, but tonight I have to say it was the referee³ to blame for our defeat, he offered a non-existent penalty to the home team," the Dutchman's words was interpreted by local media as he had to much pressure to transfer.

　　Losing 2-1 to Beijing and only managed five points in five mathces, the Dutchman's job became precarious⁵ in Shandong, a club which was believed as one of the most impatient at coaches as they fired league winning coach Branko Ivankovic in May and then Rai Matic in December.

1 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

2 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

3 referee   

n.裁判员．仲裁人，代表人，鉴定人

参考例句：

• The team was left raging at the referee's decision.队员们对裁判员的裁决感到非常气愤。
• The referee blew a whistle at the end of the game.裁判在比赛结束时吹响了哨子。

4 referees   

n.裁判员( referee的名词复数 )；证明人；公断人；（专业性强的文章的）审阅人

参考例句：

• The fiery player has had numerous run-ins with referees. 这位脾气暴躁的队员曾和裁判员发生过无数次争吵。
• If you want to appeal, the Court of Referees will decide. 如果你要上诉，可以由仲裁法庭去判决。 来自辞典例句

5 precarious   

adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的

参考例句：

• Our financial situation had become precarious.我们的财务状况已变得不稳定了。
• He earned a precarious living as an artist.作为一个艺术家，他过得是朝不保夕的生活。