Written by Fan Yuxiong On the evening of July 11, in the 14th round of the China League One, Shaanxi Union beat Meizhou Hakka 4-0 at the Xi'an International Football Center. It was Chen Tao's third game as head coach of the Shaanxi team, achieving their first back-to-back wins of the season, while also instilling fresh tactical methods, re-energizing the Northwest Wolves, and reviving Xi'an's ultra-premium football market.

Two wins in three games, a smooth initial test

Earlier this season, Shaanxi Union struggled with inconsistent form and a lack of attacking firepower. On June 21, former national team player Chen Tao officially took over. His first major challenge was an away match against Guangzhou Leopards, the top favorite for promotion, which ended in a 1-2 defeat. Given that he had just taken charge and the opponent was extremely strong, both the club management and Shaanxi fans showed understanding and tolerance toward his debut performance.

In fact, the real test for Chen Tao came in the next two home games. First, his team came from behind to beat Wuxi Wugou 2-1, then thrashed Meizhou Hakka 4-0, revealing the bloodthirsty nature of the Northwest Wolves once again. With two wins and one loss in three matches, and a notable improvement in the team's resilience and composure under pressure, this interim record means that new coach Chen Tao has passed the initial assessment and delivered an impressive report card.

When discussing the key to the 4-0 victory over Meizhou Hakka, Chen Tao summarized: "The team's tactical execution was spot on, and both offense and defense reflected what we practiced in training. Facing an opponent with excellent ball control, the players handled the pressure, were aggressive in challenges, maintained a steady rhythm, and played our style. The consecutive wins are the result of the whole team's collective effort."

Efficiency improved, tactical transformation pays off

In less than a month at the helm of Shaanxi Union, Chen Tao has gradually embedded his tactical philosophy into the Northwest Wolves. On the offensive side, he abandoned the previously conservative approach in favor of aggressive pressing football, leveraging the foreign players' forward impact combined with local wingers' runs and interchanges to create a multi-pronged attacking system. Defensively, overall coordination has significantly improved, with the entire team unified in defensive rhythm, a more compact backline, fewer individual defensive gaps, and a calm mindset even when trailing.

Chen Tao's most successful transformation of Shaanxi Union has been solving the scoring problem. In his three games in charge, the team has scored in every match, with a total of seven goals. On the attack, the Northwest Wolves have reduced aimless midfield passing, quickened the tempo of ball distribution, and matured their use of wing breakthroughs and swift counter-attacks. Local players like Wang Shijie and Tan Kaiyuan have been fully activated, daring to press and break through in the frontcourt, actively creating shooting opportunities. The foreign players' chemistry has also grown, with Irandoust, Sermani, and Azrak showing plenty of firepower.

When asked about improving the team's attacking weakness, Chen Tao said frankly: "After watching many previous match videos, I believe the issue is not about the players' ability to create chances, but rather the efficiency of the final shot. Next, we need to analyze the root causes of this problem, distinguishing whether it's a matter of players' mental state during the game or technical shortcomings, and then strengthen targeted and personalized training to specifically address the low scoring efficiency."

Reigniting passion, fan market heats up again

Shaanxi has long had a deep football heritage and a massive fan base, known nationwide as a golden football market. Previously, the Northwest Wolves' inconsistent results led to a decline in market enthusiasm. Since Chen Tao took over, the players' fighting spirit has markedly improved, and the team's results have risen, rekindling the Wolves fans' eagerness to attend games. In the home comeback win over Wuxi Wugou, 31,369 fans were present to witness it. The big victory over Meizhou Hakka came in sweltering, humid weather, yet 26,849 fans still showed up to cheer passionately.

Three games of experience, initial results visible. With two wins and one loss, Shaanxi Union has risen to sixth place in the China League One standings. For Chen Tao, this is only the beginning. While reshaping the team's tactics and awakening the football passion of the ancient city, he will lead the Northwest Wolves to aim for higher goals.

Currently, Shaanxi Union is still competing on two fronts. In addition to performing well in the league, Chen Tao is also hoping for good results in the FA Cup: "In my view, every match is crucial. We won't make a choice between the FA Cup and the league. Our players are fully capable of handling both competitions in terms of fitness and form, so the team will give its all in every game."

On July 22, in the FA Cup, Shaanxi Union will face Lanzhou Longyuan Athletic. The Shaanxi side has coordinated extensively to arrange a special high-speed rail service, the D2679, tailored for fans, ensuring a more efficient and comfortable way to travel to the away match. The Wolves fans have also shown a strong desire to make the long-distance trip to support the team.