After a brief spell in 2014-2015, Fabio Cannavaro returned to coach Guangzhou Evergrande FC in November 2017. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)
Guangzhou Evergrande head coach Cannavaro highlights injury prevention and recovery with a condensed Chinese Super League season starting on July 25.
BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Guangzhou Evergrande head coach Fabio Cannavaro said the biggest challenge all Chinese Super League teams face this season is to minimize injuries and help players recover from a congested fixture list.
The truncated 2020 CSL campaign will see 16 teams split into two groups, each group of eight teams to be based in the same hotel, to play a tournament style league behind closed doors.
Guangzhou Evergrande will be based in the northeastern city of Dalian and play twice a week during the first phase of the CSL from July 25 to September 28.
"As we have to play a match every three or four days, the most important thing for us is not training, but recovery," Cannavaro said.
"But we'll have eight teams staying at the same hotel, the gym, physio treatment and training facilities will be limited. So we will try our best to reduce injuries," he added.
"As we have a rather congested schedule, those teams who do better in recovery and injury-reduction will have advantage in the competition," the Italian said. ■