With the departure of big-name stars like Oscar and Bargas from the Chinese Super League (CSL) stage, the league seems to have entered a chaotic era akin to the "Warring States," with teams gearing up and the championship race becoming increasingly unpredictable.
From the current situation, Shanghai Shenhua appears to be the most likely candidate for the championship. In the next season, their lineup is as solid as a castle, with no obvious weaknesses. Shenhua is not a team that relies on foreign players; they are more supported by the tactical system meticulously crafted by Sluisky. Looking at the CSL's player value rankings for the 2025 season, none of Shenhua's players are in the top six. The highest-valued player is Klauss of Shandong Taishan, followed by Leonardo, and then Guga and Fabio of Beijing Guoan. Although there are rumors that Serginho's transfer to Beijing Guoan could strengthen their lineup, Shenhua also has its own confidence.
During the 2024 season, the five major foreign players in the CSL had very few appearances among the three major clubs. Now, various intelligence suggests that the foreign player coming to replace Malele at Shenhua is just Minero from the Brazilian second division, who has a history of heart disease and serious injuries. It seems unrealistic for Sluisky to rely on foreign players to win the championship. However, Sluisky is like a magical magician, with excellent skills in promoting new talents. Look at the national players in Shenhua's current lineup: Bao Yaxiong, Yang Zexiang, Jiang Shenglong, Zhu Chenjie, Xu Haoyang, Wang Haijian, Gao Tianyi, Xie Pengfei, Fernandinho, each shining like stars, along with Hong Kong player Chen Jinyi and African-blooded Eddy. How to effectively utilize these players cultivated by Shenhua's youth training will be the key to Sluisky's championship aspirations, as if finding the mysterious key to unlock the door to the championship.
On the other side, Beijing Guoan has now surpassed Shanghai Port, Shandong Taishan, and Chengdu Rongcheng to become a strong contender for the CSL title. Their current lineup is quite formidable, with Guga and Fabio ranking in the top 10 in the CSL, and Cameroonian international Ngadeu anchoring the defense. Importantly, they have brought in the former Barcelona coaching team, which has reignited Beijing Guoan's championship passion that has been dormant for 16 years. Looking back at the 2009 championship, it seems that only Zhang Xizhe remains from that time.
Looking at Beijing Guoan now, they are a powerhouse of national players. On the front line, there are Fang Hao, Lin Liangming, Zhang Yuning, and Wang Ziming, all eager to charge into battle on the field; on the defensive line, there are Li Lei and Han Jiaqi, like two solid lines of defense guarding their goal. Setien still holds many cards in terms of foreign and domestic players, with two foreign spots yet to be determined. In this era of fierce competition in the 2025 season, everyone is guessing who will dominate the CSL. I am more optimistic about Beijing Guoan and look forward to seeing how they perform on their journey to the championship.