As the season progresses, Shanghai Shenhua is undergoing an all-around transformation, with many rookie players emerging as first-team or rotation players.
In this wave of change, Shenhua team veterans face challenges, some choose to rest on the bench, some choose to find another way out. Such as the former music department contract early termination of the Baijiajun, in the summer transfer window to join the Central League team Jinan Xingzhou.
Another central midfielder, Peng Xinli, had to join Chinese Super League promotion rival Qingdao Hainiu on loan after Dai Weijun joined Shenhua this summer and his Chinese Super League registration was canceled.
Peng Xinli, who was the pillar of Shenhua's midfield for the past two seasons, was unhappy with his sudden departure. During a training session before his departure, he lost control of his emotions and threw a shovel at his teammate Malelai, almost injuring the Swiss striker. Although Peng Xinli apologized to Mallet afterwards, it exposed the tension between him and the coaching staff.
After joining Qingdao Hainiu, Peng Xinli quickly became the backbone of the team. He scored a goal in a match against Shenzhen, helping the team to a 5-0 home win.
In the remaining league matches of the season, Qingdao Hainiu and Shanghai Shenhua will have two showdowns, one in the FA Cup and the other in the Super League where the Hainiu will challenge Shenhua away. Peng Xinli is destined to miss the Super League as he has just been loaned to Qingdao Sea Cowboys this summer with an avoidance clause in his contract.
However, the situation of the FA Cup is full of variables. Since Shenhua has eight players who need to represent the national soccer team to participate in the Hangzhou Asian Games, Shenhua club recently applied to the Football Association to postpone the FA Cup semi-final with Qingdao Sea Cowboys, and was approved.
It is reported that the FA Cup semi-final between Shenhua and Hainiu will be played after the Chinese Super League. Although Peng Xinli still has more than a year left on his contract with Shenhua, it is believed that he will officially transfer to Qingdao Hainiu at the end of this season, thus qualifying to represent Hainiu in the FA Cup semi-final.
Peng Xinli will be facing his old master Shenhua with a lot of resentment in his heart, and he will give his best to take revenge on his old master. Sea Cowboys, who have completed the relegation task, will go all out for the FA Cup. They are expected to beat Shenhua at home and advance to the FA Cup final to compete with Shandong Taishan for the title.
As a result, the match between Qingdao Sea Cowboys and Shanghai Shenhua in the semi-final of the FA Cup is full of suspense, and Peng Xinli's performance against his old master for the first time after the transfer will undoubtedly be the biggest attraction of the game.
