Tianjin Teda manager Arie Haan has fired a shot at emerging side Guangzhou Evergrande, claiming that without a solid soccer tradition, the Cantonese club was just like a castle built on sand.

Xu Jiayin, boss of the Guangzhou Evergrande Real Estate Group, has spent an estimated 500 million yuan ($76.3 million) in a bid for the Chinese Super League title. He has also vowed to win the AFC Champions League within five years.

However, Haan, whose team finished second in the domestic season last year, said clubs should focus on forming long-term traditions instead of splashing out money for instant success.