Starting with a 10-point deduction! Despite a "headwind start," Shenhua presents a united front and will switch to a 4-3-3 formation.

Special contributor/Gan Hui A penalty notice disrupted the tranquility of the winter break, marking a new season where the Chinese Super League clubs no longer begin on an even playing field. On January 29, the Chinese Football Association Disciplinary and Ethics Committee, following the "Chinese Football Association Disciplinary Code," penalized 13 clubs with point deductions and fines for the 2026 season. Shenhua started with a 10-point deduction, matching Tianjin Jinmen Tiger as the clubs with the largest point penalties.

This time, 13 clubs were punished, including as many as nine teams set to compete in the upcoming Chinese Super League season. Among them, Shanghai Port, Beijing Guoan, and Shandong Taishan were docked five points or more. Shenhua’s 10-point deduction still places them behind these teams, and compared to Chengdu Rongcheng, who were not penalized, they are 10 points behind.

Facing this unprecedented challenge, Shenhua Club promptly issued a "Notice on Historical Issue Penalties," clearly expressing respect for and acceptance of the sanctions. Although the incidents involved occurred before the club’s equity reform, Shenhua stated: "The club will deeply learn from past mistakes, adhere to laws and regulations, continuously strengthen legal awareness and professional training for all staff; fully ensure normal training and match order; demonstrate sportsmanship through more resilient performances on the pitch; respond to everyone’s expectations with concrete actions; and show the club’s responsibility and commitment through practical measures."

This point deduction is undoubtedly a significant blow for Shenhua as they prepare for the new season. Since New Year’s Day, the club has announced the signings of Latang, Yang Shuai, and Gai Yi. Both foreign player slots have been used for forwards, aiming to boost the team’s attacking power. In the past two seasons, the forward line has often been a weak link in the title race, failing to ensure goal efficiency at critical moments.

After learning about the point deduction, the players encouraged the team in various ways. Manafa wrote on his personal social media: "Preseason is over; how we respond will define us. Hard work, focus, unity — no excuses, no shortcuts. Despite the negative start, everything is possible for this team. Let’s go!" In past matches, Shenhua has repeatedly shown great resilience on the field. The phrase "everything is possible" echoed the players’ sentiments, with teammates like Latang and Mineiro liking the comment. New domestic signing Yang Shuai was even more concise and direct: "Ready to start the new season. And... just do it!"

Starting with a 10-point deficit has made all Shenhua members more united. The near misses in the past two seasons, narrowly missing the league title, once caused some fans to feel dissatisfied with their team. However, this penalty notice has pushed those grievances aside. In difficult times, everyone chose to stand firmly with the team. Support came in many forms: heartfelt messages, plans to buy tickets to cheer in person, and purchases of club merchandise. Recently, sales of Shenhua merchandise have noticeably increased, with some items running low or out of stock. A longtime fan said, "I’ve supported Shenhua for over 20 years. Last year was really painful, but now we must support the team unconditionally. I live far from Shanghai Stadium, more than an hour one way, but I still came over on the weekend to buy some things and help the team get through this hurdle."

On February 1, Shenhua ended a short break and regrouped at the Jiushi Kangqiao Sports Base to prepare for two mid-February AFC Champions League Elite East Asia group matches and the March kickoff of the new Chinese Super League season. During the Dubai winter training, national players Zhu Chenjie, Xu Haoyang, and Ma Zhen were absent. Yang Haoyu, who played for China’s U23 team in the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, only joined Shenhua in Dubai on January 25 after returning from Saudi Arabia. Now, except for Jiang Shenglong who is still recovering from injury, all national players have returned, allowing coach Slutsky to better practice new tactics and integrate the squad.

From the Dubai winter training, Slutsky adjusted the previously used 4-4-2 diamond midfield formation to a 4-3-3 setup. Due to the absences of Zhu Chenjie, Jiang Shenglong, and Ma Zhen, Shenhua’s defensive lineup was incomplete during this period. When Yang Shuai suffered a minor injury, Slutsky had to deploy left-back Chen Jinyi as a makeshift center-back alongside Jin Shunkai.

After Dubai training and four friendly matches, the personnel arrangement for Shenhua’s midfield and forward lines for the new season has become clear. Foreign forwards Gai Yi, Latang, and Mineiro will form the attacking trident. Li Ke will play as the defensive midfielder, with two highly competitive positions on either side. Based on the friendly match lineups, Wu Xi and Teixeira are the leading candidates. The defense remains somewhat uncertain due to Jiang Shenglong’s injury status. In the coming period, Slutsky will focus on strengthening defensive coordination.

On February 10, Shenhua will host Japan’s Machida Zelvia in the AFC Champions League Elite League, marking the opening match of Shenhua’s new season.