As Shanghai Harbor prepares for the AFC Cup, bad news has come to light: team captain Oscar has suffered a fracture in training and is expected to be out of action for six weeks.
The official announcement of the Harbour Club: Oscar was accidentally injured while scrambling in training, and was diagnosed with a compression fracture of the toe bone in his right foot, with a treatment and rehabilitation cycle of about six weeks.
Oscar's absence will directly affect the team's performance in the FA Cup. The F.A.C. Cup will open in mid-October, with the first three rounds of matches completed by October 20 and the quarterfinals expected at the end of October.
Harbor will be in a tough situation without Oscar in the first three rounds of the F.A.C. Cup. The first round will be against a lower league team, the second round could be against a Chinese Super League team, and the eighth-quarter final will be even more challenging.
Oscar's importance to the Harbor team cannot be overstated. In the first phase of the Chinese Super League (CSL) this season, Oscar played all 14 matches, contributing 3 goals and 8 assists, leading the CSL assists list.
In addition, Seaport's foreigner Muy will also miss the AFC Cup due to his participation in the World Cup qualifiers. With the absence of two core players in the midfield, it will be doubly difficult for the Harbour to win the AFC Cup.
Nonetheless, Oscar is still hopeful of making a comeback in the quarterfinals of the F.A.C. Cup. The second phase of the Chinese Super League (CSL) title race group will start in December, and Oscar's injury will not affect the Harbour's remaining eight rounds of CSL matches.
Oscar, who turned 30 on his birthday, said on social media, "Thanks to the team, I'm fine and will see you all soon."
