Effective rotation, Chengdu Rongcheng must compete on both fronts

Reporter Lu Mi reports At 18:00 on October 21, the third round of the AFC Champions League Elite East Asia zone will stage a crucial game—Chengdu Rongcheng will host Malaysian giants Johor Darul Ta'zim at the Wuliangye Cultural and Sports Center. After two matches, Chengdu Rongcheng sits in sixth place, the highest-ranked Chinese Super League team, while Johor DT is tenth. For Rongcheng, winning this match would strengthen their position in the qualification zone; losing could see them surpassed by trailing teams. With only three rounds remaining in the Chinese Super League, the dual competition intensifies, posing a significant test of the team's resilience.

The matches before the break are particularly challenging for Rongcheng, who are competing in both the AFC Champions League and domestic league for the first time. Having endured a tough July and August, the team climbed to the top of the Chinese Super League through grit and consistent play. However, after consecutive away games last month, Rongcheng drew twice in the league, notably a 3-3 draw against Zhejiang away, which dropped them from first to second place, two points behind Shanghai Port. In the AFC Champions League Elite stage, as newcomers, they secured their first-ever home victory in the tournament—marking a historic milestone. This win also placed them within the qualification zone on the AFC points table and made them the highest-ranked Chinese Super League team in the competition.

This season, Chengdu Rongcheng clearly aims for more than just securing an AFC Champions League spot; they are steadily pursuing the best results across all competitions, with the league title as their goal. Throughout the season, they have remained in the top group, now entering the intense phase of the title race. Last month, after leading the table, the team recorded two consecutive draws starting from the match against Shanghai Shenhua, exposing some weaknesses. The crucial six-point match revealed issues such as “lack of pressure resistance” and “squad limitations.” Wei Shihao left early due to injury, forcing tactical adjustments on the flanks, while Xu Zhengyuan shifted the attack focus to break the deadlock. Fortunately, Zhou Dingyang stepped up to secure a late equalizer, demonstrating the team’s “never give up” championship spirit.

Two consecutive draws in the league meant relinquishing the top spot, which was regrettable, but Rongcheng never gave up. After their first AFC Champions League win, the team’s morale soared, and they intensified targeted offensive training during the break. Following the 27th round resumption of the Chinese Super League, they faced relegation-threatened Meizhou Hakka and displayed overwhelming squad superiority. While other title contenders struggled for narrow wins, Rongcheng comfortably won 3-1, maintaining over 70% possession and showing significantly improved attacking capability. Especially in Zhou Dingyang’s absence, Yang Mingyang and Romulo played key roles, with very high conversion rates after immediate counter-pressing—a critical breakthrough point repeatedly emphasized by Xu Zhengyuan during training, which the players executed well.

In the league, Rongcheng has now entered the most intense stage of the title race, with the entire squad mentally prepared—only three rounds remain, leaving no room for errors. Additionally, regarding the AFC Champions League, the team remains focused. Currently sitting sixth, tied on points with Gangwon FC and Buriram United, securing qualification is the minimum goal. However, AFC opponents are clearly stronger than those in the Chinese Super League. Establishing a solid points foundation in the first half of the league phase would provide better flexibility for future challenges. Their opponent Johor DT is recently embroiled in suspension controversies. A home victory would further stabilize Rongcheng’s position in the qualification zone, presenting a valuable opportunity.

This year marks Chengdu Rongcheng’s debut in the AFC Champions League group stage. Though they lack the experience of the “Shanghai double,” their performance in the first two rounds can be summarized as tactical evolution from a narrow loss to a clean sheet.

Rongcheng’s AFC debut ended in a narrow 1-2 away loss to Ulsan Hyundai, revealing midfield interception weaknesses; in the second round, a 1-0 home victory over Gangwon FC demonstrated the effectiveness of tactical adjustments. Defensively, the system was upgraded: Xu Zhengyuan abandoned possession dominance in favor of wing traps and flank contractions, forcing Gangwon FC to take five shots with two from outside the box, while goalkeeper Jian Tao made two crucial saves. The only goal came from a corner kick, with Zhou Dingyang volleying decisively in the box, confirming the success of the double penalty area protection tactic. Furthermore, set pieces have always been a threat in both the Chinese Super League and AFC competitions for Chengdu Rongcheng. Recently, the team has intensified set-piece training, specifically targeting weaknesses in Johor’s substitute defense.

If the regret of losing to Ulsan Hyundai partly reflected the strength gap between the teams, the victory over Gangwon FC was achieved by careful opponent analysis and targeted tactical changes. From a narrow defeat to claiming their first AFC Champions League win, the team has taken a solid step forward on their debut continental journey.

After the league match against Meizhou, Chengdu Rongcheng did not take the usual day off the next day. On the 18th, Xu Zhengyuan arranged training. In this round, defenders Li Yang and the suspended Zhou Dingyang were rested, and despite squad rotation, Xu Zhengyuan’s new central defense combination still achieved tactical goals. The bench’s “ready-to-play” strength effectively eased the schedule pressure and preserved core players for the upcoming AFC match.

Rongcheng’s ongoing tactical improvements center on a framework led by foreign players complemented by domestic players filling in details, creating positional combinations with differentiated advantages. With Wei Shihao sidelined, Delgado gained playing time. Although he missed three excellent chances against Meizhou, his performance showed substantial progress compared to the season’s start. Midfielders Yang Mingyang, Zhou Dingyang, Yan Dinghao, and Gan Chao, in various combinations, have begun to show rotation benefits. This provides Xu Zhengyuan with more options for the critical upcoming matches on both fronts.

This match against Johor DT is Rongcheng’s second AFC Champions League home game, and leveraging home advantage, the team aims to defend their home winning record. Of course, the frontline efficiency issues exposed in recent league rounds need focused resolution in the coming days.