September 9: Mineiro Returns to Former Club as Shanghai Shenhua Face AFC Champions League Challenge With Only Three Foreign Players

When the referee blew the final whistle, Shenhua players barely had the energy left to pull at their jerseys. This season has been extremely unlucky for them.

Injuries have piled up and foreign player problems have followed one after another. A promising season is now sliding downward, with all hopes placed on the AFC Champions League group-stage opener.

The marquee signing is down and suspensions keep coming. Has Shenhua's season been derailed by injuries and foreign player issues?

When Gaye arrived, he carried the reputation of the Chinese Super League's most expensive signing. He scored 5 goals and provided 2 assists in 7 matches, but after establishing his value, he suffered a serious Achilles injury and was ruled out for the season.

Once the core attacking pillar was lost, the team's results immediately declined, and even coach Slutsky could not withstand the pressure and left his position.

No one could replace his off-ball movement and penalty-area positioning. Crosses could not find the right target, and counterattacks often disappeared once they reached the final third.

Later, Asue returned in an emergency and produced 7 goals and 4 assists in 11 league matches, partly making up the attacking output. Unexpectedly, Mineiro received a red card against Dalian in the FA Cup and was suspended, causing an immediate gap in the forward rotation.

Several issues combined and completely disrupted the season's rhythm. Training shifted from developing attack patterns to constantly figuring out how to minimize losses, a cost far heavier than losing two matches.

Contract terminated one day, official announcement the next: who is paying the price behind Mineiro's return to Ceara?

On September 7, Shenhua announced Mineiro's contract termination. On September 8, Brazilian Serie B side Ceara announced his return to his former club. The process was completed in less than 24 hours, leading some fans to speculate that the red card may have paved the way for his departure.

Financially, Shenhua paid a €920,000 transfer fee for him in the 2025 season. Half of his two years were spent recovering from injuries, and he played only 34 matches in total, scoring 14 goals with 6 assists. Ceara sold him for a high price before and now brought him back at zero transfer cost, while Shenhua clearly suffered the loss.

There may be no issue with the contract terms, but the competitive loss is real: the attacking chemistry that had finally developed disappeared, and the coaching staff must reorganize everyone's roles.

As a longtime Hongkou supporter said: that red card looked like a farewell gesture. The player found his desired exit, while the club's dressing room was left with an empty seat.

Milojevic won only two of his first five matches. How can he solve the AFC Champions League opener with only three foreign players available?

New coach Milojevic has recorded 2 wins and 3 losses in five matches. The sample size is small, but the pressure is no less than that faced by his predecessor.

The first AFC Champions League group match allows no slow start, and the three-foreign-player rule further reduces the margin for error compared with league matches.

More troublesome is striker Latang. His red card from last season's final AFC Champions League match carries over this year, meaning he cannot play in the opener.

The match is scheduled for September 17 at 8:15 p.m., with Shenhua hosting Tampines Rovers. The two teams have never met before, so scouting information can only come from recent match footage.

In this type of matchup, there is no need for fancy tactics; execution matters. Asue should lead the line, Teixeira can receive in the half-spaces and play through balls, using short passes to break open space before the box. Securing three points matters more than attractive combinations. Ultimately, set-piece quality will likely decide the direction of the match.

Three U23 players join the Asian Games squad and the central structure is weakened. Who should Shenhua hand the rhythm to?

Wu Xi, Zhu Chenjie and Yang Haoyu joined the Asian Games team training camp in Dalian on September 7. The U23 national team plays North Korea U23 on September 16, meaning the three players will definitely miss Shenhua's AFC Champions League opener.

All three are central figures for Shenhua: Wu Xi controls midfield rhythm, Zhu Chenjie is a key defensive presence, and Yang Haoyu provides coverage. Losing them leaves a major gap in the middle and forces Milojevic to adjust.

Without Wu Xi, midfield organization must be handed to Teixeira. The transition speed between attack and defense needs to increase instead of slowly recycling the ball through defenders.

Defense has already been a concern for Shenhua this year. New arrivals Yang Shuai and Li Songyi must form a temporary partnership, with marking orders and communication clarified before the match.

Jin Shunkai has only recently returned to training, and it remains uncertain whether he can make it. If he is used, the team should avoid complicated build-up and prioritize winning the first contact and clearing the ball when needed.

After FA Cup elimination and an unstable league campaign, can Shenhua restore their reputation in the AFC Champions League?

Shenhua are already out of the FA Cup, and hopes of finishing second in the league have nearly disappeared. The AFC Champions League is now the remaining opportunity they can seize.

A winning start in the group opener would be half the foundation for qualification. Taking three points with minimum energy expenditure would make the following schedule easier.

The league break provides a chance to put aside complicated approaches and focus on set pieces and immediate counter-pressing in the attacking third.

People previously compared this situation with Real Madrid's signing of Hazard: a major investment in a core player who spent much of the time injured and eventually left through termination. The logic is similar for Shenhua: building the system around a player who may not stay available can damage season goals.

Shenhua's loss from foreign players is not only transfer fees but also the time cost of squad integration. Every AFC Champions League match is a test, so a simple and practical approach may be best: pass when possible instead of holding the ball, stay compact defensively, avoid reckless pressing that leaves counterattack space, and clear the ball decisively. Reduce mistakes first before discussing anything else.

With the red-card suspension carryover and the three-foreign-player limit, how should Shenhua calculate their qualification chances?

The rules are clear: Latang is suspended and the three-foreign-player limit is fixed, leaving little room to change the opening-match starting framework.

Wide defensive routes, marking responsibilities and midfield cover must all be detailed in training, not simply mentioned once in the pre-match meeting.

Asue's movement can shift more toward the far post, while Teixeira's through balls should target half-space runs. The choice of the third foreign player, whether in attack or midfield, depends on training form and adjustments to the opponent's wing speed.

Shenhua's set-piece defense has already been unstable this season. If problems such as losing players at the near post and failing to mark at the far post happen again, they could quickly fall into a passive situation.

Many veteran fans say Mineiro's red card felt like he sent himself directly back to his former club. Regardless of the talk, all focus now must be on earning points, with other matters left until after the final whistle.

Ultimately, the AFC Champions League is a test. Shenhua's foreign player recruitment, injury management and in-game adjustments over the past two years will all be exposed in these matches. The Mineiro deal benefited Ceara, while Shenhua lost both financially and in squad integration. If they fail to win the opener, the process will not matter much; if they win with the current squad, few will continue focusing on the previous contract situation.

The ball is at their feet and the scoreboard will tell the story. Can these players who have endured pressure for most of the season recover their confidence starting from the AFC Champions League opener?