Shanghai Shenhua departed for Dalian this afternoon to mark the start of the second phase of their Chinese Super League campaign, which resumes this weekend. Despite the strength of their opponents and the fact that core players such as Wu Xi and Liu Ruowan vanadium were unable to return in time, the team was able to return to Shanghai to rest and recuperate after the league resumed its home-and-away system, which undoubtedly gave the team a huge morale boost.
Returning to Shanghai to recuperate is worth a thousand words.
The second stage of the league returned to home and away, 11 clubs were able to play at home, unfortunately Shenhua was not able to share this benefit. Although the temporary can not nest Hongkou, Shenhua in the rest period also tried to contact the Shanghai neighboring Yancheng and other places, but were unable to implement. In the end, in the list provided by the Football Association, the team chose Dalian as the second stage of the "temporary home". Shenhua is no stranger to Dalian's Jinzhou Stadium, where they have played many league matches, and Jinzhou has also become Shenhua's battlefield in the first phase of this season. Moreover, the summer climate in Dalian is cool and pleasant.
Photo: Dalian Jinzhou Stadium, which recorded countless exciting moments for Shenhua.
According to the FA's schedule, Shenhua will face Changchun Yatai and Shandong Taishan in two consecutive home games in Jinzhou, Dalian, before traveling west to Chengdu Rongcheng and south to Haikou to face Tianjin Jinmen Tigers and Beijing Guoan, and then returning to Dalian to prepare for the game. As the away games are spread all over the place, if the team returns to Dalian after resting from Shanghai, the total flight distance will be more than 8000 kilometers. In the second stage of the league, the Football Association will advance the cost of the neutral playing field and subsidize the funds for epidemic prevention, but the transportation costs will still be borne by the clubs.
The long journey is physically demanding for the players, but it is vital for Shenhua to return to Shanghai to recuperate and prepare for the game. The pace of the league, home and away, is one that the team is familiar with, and the players will not have to endure the pressure of a four-month-long closure. Returning to the Kangqiao base and utilizing their own grounds and facilities to train and regain fitness will be far more effective in preparing for the game than anywhere else.
Photo: Returning to Shanghai to rest and prepare for the game means a lot to Shenhua.
Compared to the first phase, Shenhua has changed the list for this flight to Dalian. Zhu Yue, He Longhai and Jiang Zhixin were called up by the u21 national youth team and will fly to Croatia in early August to participate in the local league, the vacant three places by Cong Zhen, Xu Yougang and Yang Zexiang to fill. Cong Zhen and Xu Yougang both have experience of playing in China, and were loaned out to Chongqing Liangjiang and Zibo Cuju in the Central League last season. 1994-born Yang Zexiang, a wingback, was signed by Shenhua from Dalian People and loaned to Chengdu Rongcheng last year. Right back Zhao Mingjian has been loaned to Kunshan FC in the Central League, and his position will be filled by other players, who have yet to be identified.
The first stage of Shenhua's performance exceeded expectations, temporarily ranked fourth in the standings, but the second stage of the face of Shandong Taishan, Henan Songshan Longmen, Beijing Guoan, Changchun Yatai and other strong opponents, and the team suffered injuries, the challenge is more serious. Wu Xi, who suffered a rib fracture, is recuperating at home and will not be able to travel with the team this time. Yu Hanchao, who underwent meniscus surgery in Shanghai last month and is still recuperating from the operation, is also not in the team today. In the final round of the first stage, Qian Jie suffered a medial collateral ligament injury in his left knee and a sprained ankle, and although he has not fully recovered, he traveled with the team to Dalian.
Photo Credit: Shenhua will face many challenges in the next stage.
