Xie Pengfei's declining athleticism seems to be closely related to his absence from the field of play. Entering the second half of the 2024 season, his role at Shanghai Shenhua has been relegated to the bench. Since September, he has appeared in only nine games as a Shenhua substitute, playing a total of 133 minutes, with no income, neither goals nor assists. At the same time, the player who once wore the No. 10 gown of the national football team, under the banner of coach Ivan, the national team call-up list is also rare to see his name.
It is obvious that Xie Pengfei's soccer philosophy is at odds with Ivan's tactical system. In the Chinese Super League, Xie Pengfei is a skilled attacking midfielder, however, his fitness and defensive performance are stretched. As a result, Ivan did not include him in the lineup during the recent Top 18 tournament. In addition, his substitute role at Shenhua has put his future with the national team in jeopardy.
In fact, if the 31-year-old Xie Pengfei still harbors the desire to create a brilliant career in soccer, he should probably seek a transfer next season. Otherwise, his career will be mired in the mire of the bench. After all, Shanghai Shenhua's central midfield position is almost monopolized by foreigners, like Xie Pengfei's local attackers can only be willing to be a substitute. The longer he stays on the bench, the more his form will deteriorate and he will fall into a vicious circle.
