Battle in Henan, Setién Must Beware the "Schmidt Tragedy"

Special Contributor / Song Ci The disgrace of a 0-6 loss and disputes with fans must eventually be settled through performance on the field. Without a display that pleases the fans in the next game, all talk and deeds will appear futile. Hence, the next league encounter with Henan is especially vital, as it not only affects Guoan’s ability to recover from their downturn but also acts as an early rehearsal for this year’s FA Cup final.

Although the league has entered a short break, Guoan hardly had much rest and immediately started preparing for the match against Henan. Both the club and coaching staff clearly understand that after such a crushing defeat, the top priority is to restore morale and regain confidence.

In fact, the challenge facing head coach Setién is extremely tough. First, his three-defender tactical system is once again under intense scrutiny from outsiders. Many football insiders in Beijing believe that Guoan’s squad is better suited to a four-defender formation, yet the stubborn Setién insists on using three defenders most of the time.

However, the harsh reality of the upcoming match against Henan might “force” Setién to make changes: the team is suffering a severe shortage of central defenders. On the backline, key foreign player Ngadeu has been called up for international duty and will likely miss this round; young player Fan Shuangjie is suspended; Wu Shaocong is still recovering from injury; and Spajic has suffered a serious injury. Under the Spanish coach, the only available central defender left is Bai Yang. This difficult situation may compel Setién to consider switching to a four-defender system to cope with the emergency.

Secondly, looking back at the 0-6 defeat, midfield loss of control was one of the main reasons for the collapse, and veteran Chi Zhongguo faced criticism. However, this blame cannot fall entirely on Chi Zhongguo. As a lone defensive midfielder, given his age and physical condition, it is unsurprising that he struggled to execute tactical duties effectively under intense pressure from opponents, often becoming their breakthrough point. Thus, the midfield issues should also be attributed to Setién.

Of course, Guoan currently has almost no options for the defensive midfield position. Dawon and Zhang Yuan are still in recovery with uncertain return dates; Li Ruiyue’s previous performances have been below expectations. Amid this dilemma, there is also a glimmer of hope. Recently, the coaching staff has started giving more chances to 20-year-old youngster Wei Jia’ao. In last Saturday’s internal training match, Wei performed excellently and scored a goal, potentially becoming a key piece for Setién to adjust the midfield and surprise opponents in upcoming matches.

This round’s opponent, Henan, poses a tactical challenge to Guoan. Henan’s solid defense and sharp counterattacks are particularly effective against Guoan’s possession-based style. Moreover, since Beijing Guoan and Henan have already secured places in this season’s FA Cup final, their league encounter carries the additional significance of a “final rehearsal.”

Reviewing their past encounters, Henan has sometimes played the role of Guoan’s nemesis, especially when Guoan was struggling, often capitalizing on their difficulties. For instance, when Schmidt was dismissed in 2019, the away defeat to Henan triggered two consecutive losses. Therefore, for Setién, failing to come out unscathed from this away match could lead to unpredictable consequences, especially with a tougher challenge ahead against title rival Shanghai Port in the second September fixture. For this reason, Setién’s training this week shifted from a purely offensive focus to emphasizing effective defense and limiting the opponent’s fast breaks.

For Setién, the most urgent task now is to adapt and make changes according to the situation, since there are still chances to compete for championships in both the league and the cup. Despite the rare and painful defeat in club history, the league campaign is far from over. With seven rounds remaining and only a two-point gap, the title race remains wide open. If Setién can promptly adjust the team’s mentality and tactics and secure a victory in this crucial away game against Henan, Guoan will remain one of the strong contenders for the Chinese Super League title this season.

For Guoan, every upcoming match is like a final, requiring on-field performances to fulfill promises to the fans and actions to regain their trust.