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Charging towards the FA Cup final! Rongcheng rotates to cope with the challenges of competing on three fronts, as the packed schedule tests the team's resilience.


Reporter Lu Mi reports Chengdu Rongcheng is enduring a challenging schedule, with the pressure from the AFC Elite League playoffs, the Chinese Super League, and the FA Cup hitting its peak from August 12 to 19. Over the course of a week, they played three matches, greatly testing the players. On the 12th, they won 3-0 against Bangkok United at home, on the 16th they drew 0-0 with Qingdao Hainiu in the Super League, and on the 19th, they faced Henan in the FA Cup. Despite the intense schedule, Rongcheng has made history by reaching the group stage of the AFC Elite League for the first time, and if they can advance to the FA Cup final, this busy week will be seen as a success and perfection for them.



With seven matches in August, although Chengdu Rongcheng has a solid foundation, they find it somewhat difficult to cope with the packed schedule. Xu Zhengyuan has consciously started to rotate players; before the match against Bangkok United in the Super League, Rongcheng began making personnel adjustments. In the away match against Dalian Yifang, Romulo only came on in the 71st minute, but after his introduction, he assisted twice, helping the team secure three points from Suoyu Bay.


In the AFC Elite League playoffs, Xu Zhengyuan fielded a full-strength lineup, with Felipe scoring twice and Romulo providing two assists, allowing Rongcheng to easily defeat Bangkok United and successfully advance to the main tournament. This was followed by a home league match against Qingdao Hainiu, where Xu Zhengyuan deployed a semi-main squad without foreign players in the first half, aiming to win the game with minimal cost against a lower-ranked opponent. Romulo did not play, and two foreign defenders, Goulfenkel and Timo, came on in the second half, while Felipe played about half an hour as a substitute. However, the team clearly felt the effects of their intense performance in the AFC Elite League, with some players showing signs of fatigue, particularly Zhou Dingyang, who had played every minute in the earlier matches of August. Ultimately, Rongcheng drew 0-0 with Hainiu.



The rotation strategy of "full strength for key matches + managing energy for regular matches" led to missed opportunities in the league, but if they can defeat Henan in the FA Cup semifinals and advance, it would still achieve their strategic goal.


“Today's match is indeed quite regrettable. However, we must recognize that the schedule in August is very demanding, with matches coming one after another, inevitably affecting the players' stamina. Since we have the FA Cup match in two days, I had to rotate the starting lineup for this league game, which was an unavoidable choice. I have mentioned before that competing on three fronts requires a very deep bench. Moving forward, all we can do is focus on recovery, allowing the players to quickly regain their best form to prepare for the upcoming FA Cup semifinals,” said Xu Zhengyuan after the draw with Qingdao Hainiu.


The Phoenix Mountain Sports Center is a lucky venue for Rongcheng, with a home win rate of 66.7% this season and an average attendance of over 40,000 creating an overwhelming atmosphere that makes it hard for visiting teams to adapt. Notably, since 2022, Chengdu Rongcheng has faced Henan six times, achieving a record of three wins, one draw, and two losses, particularly strong at home with two wins and one draw, remaining unbeaten and holding a psychological advantage.



Chengdu Rongcheng's attacking line shows remarkable stability, with Felipe scoring 10 goals this season (8 in the league, 2 in the AFC Elite League playoffs), Romulo contributing 8 goals and 7 assists, and Wei Shihao adding 9 goals and 4 assists. Including Delgado, who had been somewhat peripheral to the system in the first half of the season but has gradually integrated and performed his role effectively. Xu Zhengyuan plans to employ this complete attacking combination in crucial matches to secure points, making it easy to predict the personnel in the midfield and forward positions for the FA Cup semifinal against Henan.


The FA Cup semifinal will see them go all out, while the upcoming AFC Elite League group stage (starting September 15) and the league title race (currently trailing leaders Shanghai Port by 3 points) also cannot afford any mistakes, placing significant pressure on Rongcheng. “The August schedule tests the team's resilience, and we need to find a balance between the FA Cup, league, and AFC competitions.” Xu Zhengyuan will also adjust the rotation more precisely based on recent match conditions, allowing substitutes like Yuan Mincheng and Yan Dinghao to participate, ensuring the team's competitiveness. Additionally, they will implement more effective work in physical management by introducing a sports science team for personalized recovery plans.


If they can successfully advance to the FA Cup final, Chengdu Rongcheng will strive for their first top-level tournament trophy in history, which would be a milestone for the team's morale and commercial value. This semifinal is not only a test of strength but also a reflection of the team's management capabilities under multi-front competition. If Chengdu Rongcheng can withstand the pressure, they will not only move closer to the championship but also inject strong confidence into their upcoming AFC campaign.


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