Shenhua's Survival Hinges on 30 Points
Shenhua currently has 13 points, while Huanghai has 12 points. Both teams are only allowed to use their sixth foreign player in the second half of the season. Shenhua's Gai has been replaced by Asuéd, while Huanghai's Gabriel is injured and has not yet announced a replacement.
Why Shenhua Faces Survival Crisis
Shenhua has been a dominant force in the Chinese Super League, Chinese FA Cup, and Chinese Super Cup for three consecutive seasons. However, they are now facing a survival crisis in the second half of the season. They are only 4 points away from relegation zone's Wuhan Three Towns, while Huanghai is 5 points away.
What Led to Shenhua's Survival Crisis
Shenhua's survival crisis is mainly due to the fact that they have the same foreign player red card policy as Huanghai. Anpem and Manaf were both suspended for retaliating against opponents, while Gai and Gabriel were both sent off in the season. Claude and Minero have been out due to long-term injuries. Minero only played one game, while Claude played 4 games.
What Gives Shenhua Hope
Despite Shenhua's survival crisis, they still have hope. Huanghai's youth team, which consisted of mostly young players, still managed to beat a mid-table team in the Chinese FA Cup. This shows that Huanghai's foundation is still strong, and if they can get their foreign players healthy, they have a good chance of getting 30 points.
What's Next for Shenhua
Shenhua and Huanghai will face even greater challenges in the second half of the season. They need to rely on their domestic players and foreign players to work together to escape the survival crisis. Shenhua needs to recover Gai and Claude's health as soon as possible, while Huanghai needs to find a replacement for Gabriel.
