A Big League Win Boosts Confidence, Shenhua Goes All Out Against Ulsan

Special Contributor/Gan Hui Following the 26th round, the Chinese Super League paused for roughly two weeks. Yet before this brief pause, Shenhua is set to host Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai on October 1 in the second round of the AFC Champions League Elite’s first phase.

The summer that is about to end has been incredibly challenging and painful for Shenhua. From round 19 to round 25, the team’s record was only 1 win, 4 draws, and 2 losses over seven matches, which is far from the performance expected of a title-contending team.

Last weekend at home against relegation-threatened Meizhou Hakka, Shenhua finally won 6-1. This home victory was something the team had been waiting for over one and a half months.

The long-awaited win lifted the team’s spirits from the previous slump, allowing them to face the upcoming AFC Champions League and CSL matches with a better mindset. Captain Wu Xi, who scored twice, said, “I’m very happy to achieve a long-awaited big win at home. There were many reasons why we couldn’t win before, but this victory has given us a lot of confidence.”

In this goal-filled match, striker Asue scored for the first time in seven league rounds. After scoring, his celebration was completely different from when he first joined Shenhua; he took a deep breath, giving a sense of relief. In an interview, Asue said, “At first, things went smoothly, but then I couldn’t find my rhythm. Scoring this goal, I hope my form will improve.” However, his fitness remains his biggest issue, as he tends to fade in the second half due to stamina limits. “I’m gradually adapting to the CSL, but I don’t think my fitness is at its best yet.”

On October 1, National Day, Shenhua will host Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai in the AFC Champions League Elite. In the previous round, an incomplete Shenhua team first took the lead but was overturned by Korea’s Gangwon FC. Due to injuries, key players like Asue and Jiang Shenglong did not play, and Shenhua fielded a mixed lineup of starters and substitutes. Facing Ulsan Hyundai, who have had a poor season in the K League with 9 wins, 10 draws, and 12 losses ranking 9th with 37 points, Shenhua must fight hard for victory at home.

Regarding this season’s AFC Champions League goals, head coach Slutsky said, “The AFC Champions League platform greatly benefits our players, and I hope more players can grow through these matches. Last season, we earned 10 points in 8 group matches and advanced. The restructured AFC Champions League is a long journey, but this season we will strive to reach the knockout stage.”

Given the current format of the AFC Champions League Elite, home matches are crucial for progressing to the knockout rounds. This round, Shenhua plays at home against a struggling Ulsan Hyundai, making it a great chance to secure points.

Moreover, in terms of schedule, Shenhua holds an advantage over Ulsan Hyundai. After the 26th round of the CSL, the league is on break, with the next league match on October 17 away against Qingdao West Coast. Thus, after the AFC match against Ulsan, Shenhua will have a short rest. Ulsan Hyundai, however, faces a congested schedule with two matches in one week; after the away game against Shenhua, they must quickly return to Korea to prepare for a Sunday (October 5) away match against K League’s second-place Jinju Sangmu.

From the match against Meizhou Hakka, it seems Slutsky was already preparing for the Ulsan match. At the 67th minute, he substituted Xu Haoyang, Wang Haijian, Yang Zexiang, and Yang Haoyu for Gao Tianyi, Li Ke, Manafa, and Liu Chengyu—a rare four-player change for Shenhua. He also used all five substitution slots in this match. With such extensive changes, Slutsky hopes key players can rest more and be in better physical condition for the AFC Champions League Elite match against Ulsan Hyundai.

Of course, as the season nears its end, players who have battled for months are physically and mentally exhausted. So while giving their all in the AFC Champions League Elite, Shenhua must also guard against injuries caused by over-fatigue. After all, Shenhua cannot afford more injuries. If more players get hurt, the remaining four CSL rounds and the following AFC matches will become even more challenging.