Shanghai Port: Efforts Are Being Made on Both Fronts!

Special contribution by Li Yun In the last match of August, Shanghai Port was heavily defeated 1-4 away against Chengdu Rongcheng, which impacted the team. On August 31, after returning to Shanghai by plane, the team declared a two-day holiday, then regrouped to get ready for the final stage of the league and the forthcoming AFC Champions League. From September 12 to 30, Port will play 3 Chinese Super League matches and 2 AFC Champions League Elite matches. Facing such a congested schedule, the team needs a clear strategy to handle competing on two fronts.

In August, Port played 5 matches, achieving 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss, earning 10 points. Overall, their performance was not poor. The away loss to Rongcheng was not entirely unacceptable, but the margin was quite large, which undoubtedly dealt a significant blow to the players' confidence.

With Wu Lei injured and Oscar and Vargas having left the team, it is an undeniable fact that Port’s overall strength has declined. In the first round, Port lost at home consecutively to Chengdu Rongcheng and Beijing Guoan, only gaining points against Shandong Taishan and Shanghai Shenhua. After another away loss to Chengdu Rongcheng, Port was swept by them this season. Against the top five teams in the league, Port has only secured a single victory against Shenhua, struggling to earn points from strong opponents. This is widely seen as a key reason why Port’s championship bid is very difficult. Upcoming fixtures include away matches against Beijing Guoan and Shandong Taishan, where scoring points will also be extremely challenging given the current form.

Additionally, the U22 national team’s training and matches have somewhat affected Port’s preparation. The U22 team started a new training camp on August 25, and to accommodate this, the Chinese Super League adjusted the schedule. Tianjin Jinmen Tiger played three matches in eight days. To give their players some rest, Tianjin requested Shanghai Port to postpone their originally scheduled match on August 23 to August 24, and Port agreed. This resulted in Port having one less day to prepare for their away game against Chengdu Rongcheng.

Furthermore, the call-up of three players—Wumiti Jiang, Kuai Jiwen, and Li Xinxiang—to the U22 national team has significantly impacted Port’s overall strength. Among them, Wumiti Jiang has been a key central defender this season, while Kuai Jiwen and Li Xinxiang are important substitutes. Their simultaneous absence, combined with injuries to Xu Xin and Li Ang, greatly reduced the available options on the bench in the match against Rongcheng. In the home match that ended 1-1 against Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, Wei Zhen replaced Wumiti Jiang in the starting lineup, but his critical mistake allowed Tianjin to equalize. Wumiti Jiang was available on the bench after serving a suspension but was not started by the coach. It was reportedly a tactical response to the U22 call-ups, as Wumiti Jiang would miss the Rongcheng game. Coach Muscat hoped that Wei Zhen, who hadn’t started for eight games, could regain form against Tianjin, but this decision cost the team points.

The Chinese Super League resumes on September 12 with seven rounds remaining. Port will face away matches against Beijing Guoan, Shandong Taishan, Qingdao Hainiu, and Dalian Professional, while hosting Yunnan Yukun, Wuhan Three Towns, and Zhejiang. As defending champions, Shanghai Port will certainly not give up easily. In the 25th round, Port will challenge Guoan away, while Shenhua hosts Rongcheng, setting up direct clashes among the top four contenders. Port will strive to win these high-profile matches. After this round, the title race may become clearer.

On September 3, Port resumed training at the Pudong Football Stadium after the break. The three players called up to the U22 national team are expected to return to Shanghai by September 10. Hong Kong defender Alex Zu traveled to Thailand to compete in the King's Cup and is expected back by September 8. Li Ang and Xu Xin were not included in the squad for the match against Chengdu Rongcheng due to injuries and are unlikely to be ready for the home game against Yunnan Yukun. With the squad not fully intact, recent training has focused on adjusting players' physical condition, while tactical drills will likely wait until the U22 players return.

Considering the overall strength, Port should have little difficulty securing a home win against Yunnan Yukun. The crucial match will be the away game against Beijing Guoan on the 21st; if Port suffers a double defeat by Guoan, they may fall out of the championship race.

If defending the league title becomes impossible, Port might shift their focus to the AFC Champions League Elite. Their foreign striker Gustavo is eligible to play in the Elite League, allowing Port to field their strongest lineup and further enhance their attacking power. However, looking at last season’s Elite League, even with star foreign players, Port only managed one win and three losses away. This season, achieving qualification will depend heavily on good home performances.

On September 17, Port will host Vissel Kobe; on the 30th, they will play away against Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Both AFC Champions League Elite matches in September are against Japanese teams. Although Muscat has long coached in the J-League, Port lost all five matches against Japanese clubs in last season’s Elite League, including three defeats by Muscat’s former team, Yokohama F. Marinos. Despite Muscat’s familiarity with the J-League, it seems to offer little advantage to Port. Whether Port can break the curse of losing to Japanese teams is a key storyline for their AFC Champions League Elite campaign this season.