The Kitchee 2021-22 Season: A Comprehensive Review and Guide
The 2021-22 season was a historic one for Kitchee, the most successful football club in Hong Kong. The team won their fifth consecutive Premier League title and their eighth in the past nine years. They also made history by becoming the first Hong Kong team to reach the AFC Champions League semi-finals.
Pre-Season and Transfers
Kitchee began the season with a busy pre-season, which included a training camp in Thailand and a number of friendly matches. The club also made several key signings, including:
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Cleiton Silva (forward) from Kashiwa Reysol
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Lucas Silva (midfielder) from Fluminense
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Hong Kong captain Tan Chun Lok (defender) from R&F
The Premier League Season
After a slow start that included two draws in their opening four matches, Kitchee eventually found their rhythm and began to dominate the Premier League. They finished the season with 59 points, seven points ahead of second-placed Eastern. Kitchee also scored 73 goals, which was 17 more than any other team.
Key players for Kitchee during the Premier League season included:
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Dejan Damjanović (striker): The Montenegrin striker scored 23 goals in 24 appearances.
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Lucas Silva (midfielder): The Brazilian midfielder scored 10 goals and provided 15 assists.
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Tan Chun Lok (defender): The Hong Kong captain was a rock at the back for Kitchee, helping the team keep 13 clean sheets.
The AFC Champions League
Kitchee made history by becoming the first Hong Kong team to reach the AFC Champions League semi-finals. They began their campaign by finishing top of their group, which included Shanghai Port, Melbourne City, and United City.
In the knockout stage, Kitchee defeated Ulsan Hyundai and FC Tokyo before losing 3-2 on aggregate to Al Hilal in the semi-finals.
Kitchee's performance in the AFC Champions League was a major achievement for Hong Kong football. It showed that Hong Kong teams are capable of competing at the highest level in Asia.
The Domestic Cups
Kitchee also won the Hong Kong FA Cup and the Hong Kong Senior Shield in the 2021-22 season. This gave the club a domestic treble, which is a rare achievement in Hong Kong football.
Players of the Season
The following players were named as Kitchee's Players of the Season:
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Player of the Year: Dejan Damjanović
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Young Player of the Year: Yan Hing Hei
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Foreign Player of the Year: Lucas Silva
The Manager
Josep Gombau was the manager of Kitchee in the 2021-22 season. The Spanish manager led the club to a treble and won the Premier League title for the third time in his four years at the club.
The Future
Kitchee will be looking to build on their success in the 2022-23 season. The club will be competing in the AFC Champions League again and will be looking to win their sixth Premier League title in a row.
Tables
Table 1: Kitchee's 2021-22 Premier League Results
| Matchday |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
| 1 |
29 August 2021 |
Eastern |
1-1 |
| 2 |
12 September 2021 |
Lee Man |
2-0 |
| 3 |
19 September 2021 |
Citizen |
2-2 |
| 4 |
26 September 2021 |
Southern |
1-1 |
| 5 |
3 October 2021 |
HKFC |
4-0 |
| 6 |
17 October 2021 |
Rangers |
2-1 |
| 7 |
24 October 2021 |
Resources Capital |
3-0 |
| 8 |
31 October 2021 |
Dreams FC |
1-0 |
| 9 |
14 November 2021 |
Eastern |
0-1 |
| 10 |
21 November 2021 |
Lee Man |
3-0 |
| 11 |
28 November 2021 |
Citizen |
3-0 |
| 12 |
5 December 2021 |
Southern |
1-1 |
| 13 |
19 December 2021 |
HKFC |
2-0 |
| 14 |
9 January 2022 |
Rangers |
4-2 |
| 15 |
16 January 2022 |
Resources Capital |
2-0 |
| 16 |
23 January 2022 |
Dreams FC |
1-0 |
| 17 |
6 February 2022 |
Eastern |
1-0 |
| 18 |
20 February 2022 |
Lee Man |
2-0 |
| 19 |
27 February 2022 |
Citizen |
1-0 |
| 20 |
6 March 2022 |
Southern |
2-0 |
| 21 |
13 March 2022 |
HKFC |
3-0 |
| 22 |
19 March 2022 |
Rangers |
0-1 |
Table 2: Kitchee's 2021-22 AFC Champions League Results
| Stage |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
| Group Stage |
29 June 2022 |
Shanghai Port |
2-0 |
| Group Stage |
6 July 2022 |
Melbourne City |
1-1 |
| Group Stage |
13 July 2022 |
United City |
4-0 |
| Round of 16 |
19 August 2022 |
Ulsan Hyundai |
2-1 |
| Quarter-Finals |
25 August 2022 |
FC Tokyo |
2-0 |
| Semi-Finals |
13 September 2022 |
Al Hilal |
2-3 |
Table 3: Kitchee's 2021-22 Domestic Cup Results
| Competition |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
| Hong Kong FA Cup |
8 May 2022 |
Eastern |
2-0 |
| Hong Kong Senior Shield |
15 May 2022 |
Southern |
2-1 |
Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips and tricks for Kitchee fans:
- Follow the team on social media for the latest news and updates.
- Attend matches at the Mong Kok Stadium to support the team.
- Buy merchandise to show your support for the club.
- Vote for Kitchee players in the various awards that are given out each season.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Kitchee is the most successful football club in Hong Kong.
- The club has a good track record of success in the Premier League and the AFC Champions League.
- Kitchee has a strong squad with a number of talented players.
- The club is well-supported by its fans.
Cons:
- Kitchee can be a bit expensive to attend matches.
- The club sometimes struggles against teams from other countries in the AFC Champions League.
- Kitchee has a history of losing players to other clubs in China and Japan.
Call to Action
If you are a Kitchee fan, I encourage you to support the club in any way that you can. Attend matches, buy merchandise, and vote for Kitchee players in the various awards that are given out each season. Together, we can help Kitchee continue to be the most successful football club in Hong Kong.
