How will Chengdu Rongcheng, leading the title race by 5 points, handle this unexpected windfall?

Reported by reporter Lu Mi At the end of January, an unprecedented points deduction storm in Chinese football thoroughly transformed the 2026 CSL competition. Of the 16 teams, 9 were penalized with point deductions and will begin the new season with negative scores. Shanghai Shenhua and Tianjin Jinmen Tiger were docked 10 points each; Shandong Taishan and Henan received 6 points each; other traditional giants such as Shanghai Port and Beijing Guoan were also penalized 5 points each. Amid this industry-wide shakeup, Chengdu Rongcheng stands as the only team among last season’s top seven unaffected by penalties, enjoying a natural advantage with zero deductions and seizing the best opportunity in club history to challenge for the league title.

However, behind this “heaven-sent” opportunity lie numerous challenges. In the 2026 season, Rongcheng must deal with a coaching change, integrating new signings, and rebuilding their tactical system. How they capitalize on their current edge while avoiding past mistakes will be crucial to their title ambitions.

At the end of January 2026, the points deduction storm in Chinese football was one of the most severe regulatory crackdowns in CSL history, with an unusually large scale. The direct rivals for the title were penalized, which is a tangible benefit for Chengdu Rongcheng, instantly making them the most competitive title contender amid the chaos.

From the points perspective, Rongcheng starts at zero, giving them a clear advantage over traditional rivals like Shanghai Port (-5 points), Shandong Taishan (-6 points), and Shanghai Shenhua (-10 points). Based on last season’s performance, Rongcheng finished third with 60 points; after deductions, Port’s effective starting points equate to 61, Shenhua 54, Guoan 52, and Taishan 47. The points gap between Rongcheng and main competitors has significantly narrowed. In theory, maintaining last season’s form should allow Rongcheng to control the title race. More importantly, rivals must not only compete on the pitch but also bear the psychological burden of making up deducted points. Teams like Shenhua and Jinmen Tiger, docked 10 points, are nearly out of the championship hunt, while Taishan and Guoan’s competitiveness has declined due to penalties and squad rotation. This undoubtedly reduces the psychological pressure on Rongcheng’s title pursuit.

In the new season, the Shanghai duo and Beijing Guoan must juggle the demanding AFC Champions League schedule, dividing their focus. Only Chengdu Rongcheng can fully concentrate on the league without the fatigue and rotation challenges of congested fixtures. Over a long 30-round season, this will be a crucial advantage. Additionally, as one of the teams without point deductions, Rongcheng holds the upper hand in player recruitment and fan support. Compared to teams mired in penalty controversies and morale setbacks, Rongcheng is more attractive to top players and enjoys stronger fan backing.

Looking back at the 2025 season amid this opportunity, Rongcheng’s failure to clinch the title becomes even more regrettable, though it provided valuable lessons. Last season, the CSL competition was relatively balanced, with no team dominating absolutely. Rongcheng relied on solid defense and fighting spirit to stay near the top, but lacked composure in key matches, depth in the squad, and suffered from injuries and fatigue — all factors that kept them from the championship. Besides addressing these issues, this season Rongcheng must also improve tactical flexibility and adaptability.

Although the zero-point penalty advantage gives Rongcheng a golden chance to win the title, it does not guarantee the CSL championship. The new season brings unprecedented challenges: integrating a new coach, new domestic and foreign players, and building a fresh tactical system will test the team’s resilience. Crucially, if they fail to seize the lead in such a favorable environment, the club management will face intense public scrutiny.

Overall, Rongcheng’s biggest challenge now is the major squad overhaul and the resulting need for team cohesion. During the offseason, Rongcheng parted ways with long-time coach Xu Zhengyuan and hired John Aloisi as the new head coach, signaling a tactical shift for the upcoming season. On the roster front, Zhou Dingyang transferred to Shenzhen; left winger Gurfinkel and center-back Timo departed; Yan Dinghao and Yang Shuai moved to Liaoning Ironmen and Shanghai Shenhua respectively; Han Pengfei may also leave, leaving the core framework of the team dismantled.

Of course, Rongcheng has made targeted reinforcements during the winter transfer window. They signed winger Silva, nicknamed the “Qingdao Mbappé,” and acquired defensive midfielder Ruza from Shanghai Port to address midfield gaps left by Zhou Dingyang’s departure. One center-back foreign player spot remains to be filled. Additionally, although Hong Kong defender Alexis Zu might join, Rongcheng is still considering bringing in another foreign defender to strengthen the backline.

The addition of new players does not immediately translate into improved strength; the key factor for Rongcheng’s early season results will be how well the new domestic and foreign players integrate. The new coach’s system differs sharply from Xu Zhengyuan’s three-center-back formation, requiring players to adapt to new tactical concepts through extensive training and match experience. The team has already played five warm-up matches in Abu Dhabi: a 1-3 loss to Baku Oil Workers, 0-3 defeat to Rostov, 0-4 loss to Lokomotiv Moscow, followed by a 1-1 draw with Dynamo Moscow and a 2-0 win over Al Markhiya.

In the early warm-up matches, the team conceded 10 goals across three games. Quickly optimizing tactics and plugging defensive gaps is the primary task for Rongcheng’s new coach. After all, with the combined advantages of squad quality and no point penalties, plus the club’s continued investment this season, the psychological pressure on the team should not be underestimated.

Given the favorable situation where all title rivals start with negative points, Chengdu Rongcheng unsurprisingly faces very high expectations from fans and media alike, who see this as the closest the club has ever been to winning the league championship.