“The two weeks have been hectic,” said McKinna, who was asked by Chengdu's part-owners Sheffield United to review the club's structure but has since has found himself taking the first team in the interim.

“The club has been in a bit of turmoil but it's all settled down now. That was our first game as a team - not one pre-season game and to go in against the champs and get a 3-3 draw was great.”

Players were still joining the club in the week leading up to the season opener with on-loan Mariner Adam Kwasnik one of five new faces brought in.

But it didn’t seem to affect the side - and with a touch of McKinna’s trademark fighting spirit, shocked the Chinese power.

“Coming from behind three times was also a great effort," said McKinna. "Brendan Santalab had only trained fully for a week and was outstanding and Kwas [Adam Kwasnik] did very well as did [former A-League player] Jonas Salley.

“And Kwas hit the post in the last few minutes so we just about won it.”

Sydney FC’s opponents in the ACL Shanghai Shenhua also drew 3-3 on the opening day of the season against Qingdao Zhongneng.

It’s believed talks will be held this week between Chengdu and Central Coast Mariners about moving McKinna into the job after coach Wang Baoshan walked out on the CSL club on the eve of the season.

It’s known that McKinna – who enjoyed a successful five years in Gosford that included winning a Premiers Plate and qualifying for two grand finals – has enjoyed being back on the training paddock.

And Chengdu - who have a sister-club relationship with the Mariners and an association with Sheffield United in England  - would’ve been impressed how the under-prepared Blades stunned reigning champions Shandong.

McKinna, who was replaced as Mariners head coach a year ago and manoeuvered into an administrative position, has been impressed by what he’s seen so far in Chengdu.

He said the club’s training centre was first class with six training fields, a gym and on-site accommodation and administration offices all in the one location.

The popular Scots-born Aussie added: “It's been a great experience so far. And I have a translator so no problems with the accent so far.”