Special Contributor / Gan Hui This weekend, after roughly a two-week break, the Chinese Super League will resume. The maximum point difference among the top four teams is just two points, and as the season nears its conclusion, the fight for the title will become fiercer.

Before the start of the CSL sprint battle, Shenhua hosted the "Shen Love Family Festival" and Blue Blood Unity Day team-building event yesterday afternoon (September 7). During the event, the team and 100 invited fan representatives reviewed the Match Day documentary of their last game against Wuhan Three Towns, followed by a group viewing of the film "F1 Rush." The movie tells the story of a struggling top-tier racing team at the bottom of the rankings whose owner, Ruben Cervantes, calls upon retired former teammate Sonny Hayes. Sonny and rookie Joshua Pearce face challenges during their collaboration but eventually lead the team on a comeback journey.

Although football and F1 are distinct sports, the film conveys the spirit of individual and team cooperation and the belief in pursuing dreams despite adversity—qualities essential for any football team’s path to success.

The day after the match against Wuhan Three Towns, Shenhua Club issued an apology letter, expressing regret to fans while pledging not to give up the desire and pursuit of the championship, committing to fight for the shared goal through the final seven rounds.

August was undoubtedly the toughest period since Slutsky took charge of Shenhua: the unbeaten home streak in the league was broken; the team also faced an unprecedented three-match winless streak. The club’s apology letter stated: "In five matches during August, the team managed only one victory. Such results are unacceptable, disappointing the loyal Shenhua fans and the traveling supporters who braved all conditions to cheer. We feel deeply responsible!"

In August, Shenhua earned just 5 points from 1 win, 2 draws, and 2 losses, while the bottom-ranked Changchun Yatai achieved 2 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss. The club stated in the apology letter: "During the upcoming break, the club and team will conduct deep reflection and analysis, actively seek causes and solutions, and do everything possible to adjust players’ mental and physical conditions to prepare thoroughly for the final sprint."

Shenhua’s sharp decline in performance results from multiple overlapping factors. Firstly, key players suffered injuries or suspensions in August’s five matches—core members like Zhu Chenjie, Teixeira, Wu Xi, and Andre, all vital in Slutsky’s tactical system, missed games. Furthermore, Slutsky rarely rotated the squad, limiting substitute players’ playing time and making it difficult for them to maintain good form. Consequently, the team increasingly depended on core players. The impact of missing Teixeira or Wu Xi was clearly visible in both attack and defense during these games.

At the same time, Slutsky’s tactics lack variation. From practical matches, the effectiveness of his system has noticeably declined compared to last season. Opponents have gained deeper understanding and found effective ways to counter his tactics. Without proactive changes, the difficulty of matches will inevitably increase.

Personnel changes also play a role. In August, the two foreign forwards, Asue and Andre, scored zero goals from open play. The forward line’s poor form directly affected the team’s results. Slutsky’s tactics emphasize fast pace and high intensity, focusing on quick transitions requiring physically robust players to constantly challenge the opponent’s defense. Neither Asue nor Andre fits this profile, leaving the attack lacking explosiveness and speed.

August is also the hottest period nationwide. Matches against Shanghai Port, Zhejiang, Qingdao Hainiu, and Wuhan Three Towns were all played under high temperatures. Although weather conditions were equal for both sides, Slutsky’s tactics demand higher stamina. When the heat causes excessive exhaustion, players struggle to maintain the fast-paced, high-intensity style.

After round 23, Chengdu Rongcheng, having beaten Shanghai Port, rose to first place with 50 points. Shenhua followed closely with 49 points, while Shanghai Port and Beijing Guoan both had 48. The top four are separated by just two points, meaning all have opportunities; the key lies in who performs most consistently and makes the fewest mistakes.

Following the match against Wuhan, the CSL entered a roughly two-week break. Shenhua took only two days off and regrouped at Jiushi Kangqiao Sports Base on the evening of September 4 to prepare for upcoming matches. Given the poor performance in August, this break is a critical opportunity for rest and recovery.

Since the national team did not schedule training camps, regular national players like Zhu Chenjie, Jiang Shenglong, and Xu Haoyang could fully participate in the break training. Shenhua’s squad remained largely intact, except Yang Haoyu was called to the U22 national team and Chen Jinyi represented Hong Kong in the King's Cup.

While actively preparing, the team conducted thorough analysis and reflection to better pursue the championship in remaining matches. In the apology letter, Shenhua Club clearly stated it will not give up on the title: "Please believe that in the past, present, and future, the club and team have never abandoned nor will abandon the desire and pursuit of the championship! Learning from pain, looking ahead with determination, we hope to continue receiving your support in the final seven rounds as we fight for our shared goal!"

At yesterday’s Blue Blood Unity Day event, everyone expressed their determination to win the title. Club chairman Gu Jiqing invited the oldest staff member, 66-year-old Zhang Zhiyong, to the stage. Gu said: "He is a highly respected professional who has devoted much of his life to football. I want our players to remember that such a senior staff member is also waiting to win the championship with us. I hope during Zhang’s time with us, we can leave him the most wonderful memories."

Zhang Zhiyong emotionally said: "I was an athlete from childhood and have been involved professionally for over 20 years, but I have never won a league championship. I sincerely hope to win one before retirement. Here, I ask all players, fans, and media friends to unite so we can win all the last seven matches."

Captain Wu Xi thanked the fans who have always supported the team and said: "There are 7 rounds left, and everything is possible. We will do our utmost to perform our duties. I want to speak about responsibility. In the team, Monkey (Yu Hanchao) and I are among the few veterans, and we will continue to bear our responsibilities and lead by example. I also hope all players, on and off the field, show responsibility and commitment. In the final seven matches, let’s fight together for Shenhua and for everyone who loves Shenhua."

In the last seven rounds of the league, Shanghai Shenhua, Chengdu Rongcheng, Shanghai Port, and Beijing Guoan face varying levels of difficulty in their schedules. For Shenhua, right after the break, they immediately face tough matches against Shandong Taishan and Chengdu Rongcheng.

Unlike Shenhua, opponents Shandong Taishan and Chengdu Rongcheng had excellent performances in August. Shandong Taishan won 4 of 5 matches and lost 1, earning 12 points, with their only defeat away to Chengdu Rongcheng. They scored 15 goals in these five games, showcasing strong offensive power and were the highest-scoring CSL team in August. Additionally, Shandong Taishan set the highest shot-on-target rate of 46.8% and a shot conversion rate of 24.2%, averaging a goal every 30 minutes.

Chengdu Rongcheng performed even better, competing on three fronts: league, FA Cup, and AFC Champions League playoffs. They secured 13 points from 4 wins and 1 draw in the league, notably beating Taishan and Shanghai Port, which carried significant weight. Currently, Chengdu Rongcheng has surpassed Shenhua to become the new leader. This season, Rongcheng has excelled in matches against strong teams: they swept Shanghai Port and Shandong Taishan, drew and won against Beijing Guoan, and narrowly defeated Shenhua by one goal in the first half of the season. They remain unbeaten against the top five CSL teams. Their most impressive feature this season is their solid defense, conceding only 3 goals in 5 league matches in August. Against strong attacking teams Shandong Taishan and Shanghai Port, Rongcheng conceded just one goal per game.

Clearly, Shenhua’s next two matches are challenging, and these are not the only difficulties in their final seven matches. Last season, Shenhua lost a crucial opportunity by drawing at home with Shenzhen New Pengcheng in the penultimate round, eventually finishing second by a single point. This season, the two teams will meet again in the second-to-last round, with Shenhua having already lost the away match in the first half of the season. In the final round, Shenhua faces Tianjin Jinmen Tiger away, and considering Tianjin’s squad and performance this season, it will be equally tough for Shenhua to secure all three points there.

"When in poverty, change; when changing, flow; when flowing, longevity." Perhaps Slutsky needs to proactively seek some changes, including tactics and formations. Especially when the squad is incomplete, formation adjustments could compensate. However, forcing players to alter their playing habits and sacrifice some of their characteristics for formation changes is not the optimal choice and may yield unsatisfactory results.

At yesterday’s team-building event, head coach Slutsky clearly stated that in the upcoming league stages, the team will do its utmost to show their best level: "First, I want to sincerely apologize because in the last match we didn’t perform as we should, and the result was unacceptable to everyone. Having worked in China for nearly two years, the fans are our greatest supporters and strongest backing. If our team can reach your level, I believe we can win every match. With seven matches left, we will give our all to display our best and full capabilities."