The Chinese Super League and AFC Champions League enter a critical phase, and Shenhua needs to overcome the "interval syndrome."

Written by Gan Hui On October 18, during the 27th round of the Chinese Super League, Shenhua won an away match against Qingdao West Coast, who had two players dismissed, maintaining their hope for the title. Immediately after the game, Shenhua hurried back from Qingdao to Shanghai to get ready for the AFC Champions League Elite home match against FC Seoul on October 22.

Shenhua has always struggled with "interval syndrome" — their first match following a break usually sees subpar performance. The most typical example was the June 14 match against Shenzhen New Pengcheng: after a nearly three-week rest following the May 21 FA Cup game against Wuxi Wugou, Shenhua returned to the league only to suffer a heavy 1-3 defeat away from home.

From the match against Qingdao West Coast, Shenhua once again showed signs of interval syndrome. If it weren't for the opposing players Sun Jie and Zhang Chengdong receiving red cards in the first half, and the steady performances of veterans Wu Xi and Yu Hanchao, it would have been uncertain whether Shenhua could have left Qingdao unscathed.

After the match with Qingdao West Coast, Qingdao’s head coach Shao Jiayi commented, “I have to praise my players because I think they performed exceptionally well on the field! Especially in the second half, playing with only eight outfield players plus the goalkeeper, they maintained discipline and followed the coach’s instructions throughout. We still had chances until the final moment, which shows the result of everyone’s hard work and fighting spirit.” Indeed, despite having a numerical advantage, Shenhua did not pose many real threats to the opponent’s goal. Key players like Teixeira and Asuue were only average in form. “Just like before, because of the break, we didn’t start well; we were too nervous and played at a slow pace,” Slutsky admitted the team’s post-break difficulties.

Shenhua faces a congested schedule soon: after the away game against Qingdao West Coast, they will host FC Seoul on the 22nd, then face Dalian Yifang at home on the 26th in the league. To keep their hopes alive for the league title and to advance from the AFC Champions League Elite group, both upcoming matches require maximum effort. For Slutsky, the priority is to quickly improve the team’s competitive form in a short time. “I have repeatedly said that veterans Yu Hanchao and Wu Xi’s performances are unparalleled. They are not only team leaders but also role models for the younger players.” Slutsky praised the veterans highly but acknowledged the team cannot rely solely on them and needs more players to step up.

In this season’s AFC Champions League Elite, Shenhua faced three Korean teams in the first three rounds. Against Gangwon and Ulsan Hyundai in the first two rounds, Shenhua earned one draw and one loss, collecting 1 point and currently ranking 9th in the East Asia zone. Their next opponent is FC Seoul, who finished their regular K League season with 11 wins, 12 draws, and 10 losses in 33 matches, ranking 5th in K1 League. FC Seoul has recorded one win and one draw in the two AFC Champions League Elite matches played so far, placing second in the East Asia zone and holding the highest ranking among the three Korean teams in both the league and AFC Champions League Elite.

FC Seoul features the well-known “King Ling” Lingard, who is also the most valuable player on their roster. So far this season, Lingard has appeared 30 times, starting 27 matches, scoring 7 goals, and providing 3 assists.

The schedules of the Chinese Super League and Korea’s K League differ, and Shenhua and FC Seoul currently face very different situations. The Chinese Super League is in its final three rounds, with only a 3-point gap separating Shenhua, Shanghai Port, and Chengdu Rongcheng — the title race remains intense. Although Shenhua is at a disadvantage in points and head-to-head results, they will certainly give their all while hope remains. Regarding the AFC Champions League, Slutsky revealed the goal this season is to reach the knockout stage. With two matches per week, balancing these games is crucial. For FC Seoul, having finished the regular league, their chances of catching the top three in the five playoff rounds are nearly zero, and they have been eliminated from domestic cups, allowing them to focus all their energy on the AFC Champions League Elite.

Andre Luis, who underwent minimally invasive lumbar disc surgery in early September, came on as a substitute in the 68th minute against Qingdao West Coast. However, his condition was clearly not fully recovered; his movement lacked intensity, and his ball touches were scarce. Andre said, “During the break, I have been consistently doing rehabilitation training at the base without missing sessions. I hope to return soon to provide timely support for the team. Before this match, I only attended two training sessions, but I feel my physical condition is acceptable. I believe with upcoming training and matches, I can find my best form.” Perhaps in the game against FC Seoul, he and other players seeking form will get more playing time.