In the steel wall of the goal, international player Yan Junling guards the city of Shanghai seaport as usual; as for the layout of the defense line, Coach Mourinho's soccer wisdom may continue his iconic four defenders system, and it is speculated that the four defenders in the starting lineup will be Li Shuai, Jiang Guangtai, Li Ang and Fu Huan. Of these, naturalized players Jiang Guangtai and Li Ang will join forces to form a solid double center back barrier, while Li Shuai and Fu Huan will play their respective roles as solid barriers on both flanks. The experienced Stanley Wong is on standby as a substitute.
In the midfield area, Brazilian star Mateus Jussa will play a key role in intercepting and breaking up the ball, responsible for blocking Shanghai Seaport's midfield and backfield; naturally, his Brazilian countryman Léo Chitardini partners with him to form a solid double backline defense. Oscar, the soul of the midfield, stands in front of the two Brazilian stars, directing and controlling the team's offense up front.
Up front, undoubtedly, the centerpiece of Shanghai Seaport's attack will be William Pope, the lone wolf of the AFC Champions League. On either side of him will be Argentine wing-horse Vargas and local hero Feng Jin, known as the Chinese Super League's Crow, to provide support. Chinese soccer's leading man Wu Lei, on the other hand, is likely to face rotation with a reserve berth on standby as he has yet to fully recover from his injury. Another Brazilian striker, Gustavo, will also be on the bench, ready to make his debut. All things considered, Shanghai Seaport's starting lineup for the AFC Champions League group stage against Kawasaki Frontale is expected to be as follows: Yan Junling; Li Shuai, Jiang Guangtai, Li Ang, Fu Huan; Mateusz Joussa, Léo Chitardini, Oscar; Vargas, William Pope, Feng Jin.
