Meet Guoan from Henan! Securing crucial points for survival and building confidence for the cup competition.

Reporter Luming reports. As the September schedule kicks off, Henan Jiuzhu Dukang will face the challenge of one home game and two away fixtures. Having earned a place in the FA Cup final, Henan’s main focus is on league survival. The first game in September is against Beijing Guoan, regarded as a rehearsal for the FA Cup final. For head coach Ramos, there is a fundamental difference between league and cup matches, requiring different preparation strategies, as was evident during the recent back-to-back matches against Shanghai Shenhua in both competitions.

Henan entered the league’s final sprint phase ranked 12th. Despite their historic run to the FA Cup final, league survival remains the team’s primary goal. After adjustments, the September schedule has shaped into one key spotlight match plus two crucial relegation battles: hosting Beijing Guoan on September 12, visiting Wuhan Three Towns on September 19, and traveling to face Tianjin Jinmen Tiger on September 28. The outcomes of these three matches will directly influence Henan’s survival prospects.

The match against Beijing Guoan is undoubtedly the toughest challenge this month. Historical head-to-head data shows Henan has one win, one draw, and four losses in the last six encounters, placing them at a disadvantage. The 2024 season was relatively favorable for Henan against Guoan, with a 2-1 home win and a 1-1 away draw. Recently, Henan has shown strong resilience when facing top-four teams, and with Guoan having suffered a heavy defeat before the break, Henan enjoys a psychological edge playing at home this time.

The following two away matches against Wuhan Three Towns and Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, along with upcoming encounters against mid- and lower-table teams, represent the real test for Henan. This season, Henan’s performance has been inconsistent, often missing chances against teams of similar strength and ranking. Since Ramos took over and deeply restructured the squad, some improvements have been seen. Wuhan Three Towns and Tianjin Jinmen Tiger were problematic opponents in the first half of the season; Henan lost leads in consecutive home games against them. Ramos watched one of those matches from the stands and the other was his debut as head coach.

This month’s back-to-back away games against these season-long “bogey teams” are tough battles that Henan must fully commit to. Given their strong form in August, with consecutive wins over Shenzhen New Pengcheng and Dalian Yifang, Henan now has a valuable opportunity. Successfully securing points will greatly ease their relegation pressure.

Henan’s current squad status also provides a solid foundation for the survival push. Except for goalkeeper Xu Jiamin, who is out for the season, the first team has no major injuries, allowing the head coach to field his strongest lineup for September’s matches. Training resumed on September 4, and Ramos fulfilled his promise to treat the team to a meal after a clean sheet against Dalian Yifang. The atmosphere at the dinner was relaxed and harmonious.

The league match on September 12 and the FA Cup final on December 6 — these two "Beijing-Henan clashes" nearly three months apart — represent the most significant strategic challenges for Henan this season. This unique scheduling differs from typical relegation dilemmas or conventional back-to-back fixtures, offering Henan a special strategic planning opportunity.

The two encounters with Guoan carry entirely different meanings for Henan. Many consider the league match a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup final, but that is not the case. Ramos’s preparation approach was already evident during previous back-to-back matches against Shanghai Shenhua in both competitions.

In those earlier dual encounters against the same opponent, Ramos regarded the two games as fundamentally different. Even though they were back-to-back, distinct tactics were applied — the FA Cup demanded a decisive result within 90 minutes, leading to an open style of play with the expectation of conceding and scoring goals; the league match, with minimal preparation time, was approached with a slower tempo, nearly resulting in points being taken from Henan by the opponent.

This time, the two matches against Guoan are nearly three months apart, much better than the back-to-back scenario with Shanghai Shenhua, and there is no need to sacrifice one competition for the other. Henan is currently in good form, especially with Achimpeng, Cardoso, and Nasario in excellent shape; this combination will continue to be used in the September league matches.

Of course, a positive result in the league match would greatly boost Henan’s psychological advantage heading into the FA Cup final; even if victory is not achieved, targeted adjustments can help eliminate any mental setbacks. This continuity in psychological preparation is the deeper logic that must be considered for both games.

Henan’s first-ever FA Cup final appearance has long surpassed just a single game’s outcome and is triggering a chain reaction in the province’s football ecosystem. Recently, Jia Jianjun, vice president of the Zhengzhou Football Association, outlined innovative pathways for football development in Zhengzhou, stating: "Henan football clubs reaching the FA Cup final inject strong momentum into the entire province’s football growth. The Zhengzhou Football Association will collaborate with all sectors of society to use this opportunity to promote comprehensive development of football in Zhengzhou, aiming for new heights.”

Henan’s breakthrough in the cup has extended into the league. During their FA Cup run, eliminating Zhejiang, Shanghai Shenhua, and Chengdu Rongcheng, the team forged a resilient defensive system and a fighting spirit for tough matches. Their consecutive victories in penalty shootouts have significantly enhanced their pressure resistance. This spirit is gradually permeating league play, becoming an invisible asset in the survival battle. Data shows Henan’s defensive stability in the league improved markedly after advancing in the cup, directly reflecting the “final effect.”

The FA Cup final is scheduled for December 6. To facilitate fan attendance and highlight the event’s social impact, the host city Suzhou invited Henan club management last week to the Olympic Sports Center to watch matches and coordinate preparations. Discussions covered tourist facilities, publicity, event timing, and more. The Henan club and Suzhou officials also had in-depth talks about fan travel and viewing services. Club staff conducted on-site inspections of local hotels, training grounds, and turf, and explored friendly city cooperation plans.

The club already embraces a “culture-tourism-sports integration” development mindset, using the historic FA Cup final appearance as a chance to develop football events into a new window showcasing Henan culture, thereby driving growth in the sports consumption market.

From Zhengzhou Hanghai Stadium to Suzhou Olympic Sports Center, Henan’s September journey intertwines league survival, cup ambitions, and the broader dream of revitalizing Henan football. The match against Guoan is not only a league survival battle but also a vital warm-up for the cup final. The FA Cup final brings not just hopes for the championship but also a historic opportunity to reshape Henan’s football landscape.