After Shanghai Shenua’s magnificent CFA Cup win over city rivals SIPG, there has been reports emerging from either camp already relating to how the clubs may prepare for the 2018 CSL season. Carlos Tevez and Andre Villas-Boas are two giant names in Shanghai football at the minute, but given Tevez’s poor form and attitude since arriving at Shenua, and AVB being in charge for this humiliating CFA Cup final loss for SIPG, will either man feature in the CSL next year?
Shenua refuse to rule out Tevez contract extension
If you or I were paying a striker £650,000-a-week to score goals only to see him manage just four in sixteen CSL games a contract extension would be probably be off the cards, however Shanghai Shenua claim that Carlos Tevez may still be playing for the club next season. Shenua’s deputy general manager Zhou Jun has been speaking to Shanghai TV and claims the Argentine is still working hard to play despite being left out of the squad for the CFA Cup final.
Of course, Shenua didn’t miss their supposed star man as they overcame SIPG to lift the trophy on away goals. Which makes Jun’s comments all the more surprising to many of us:
“We decided to buy Tevez because the AFC Champions League qualifying phase was about to begin and at that time the new rules did not come to light.”
“Tevez was playing quite well in both Boca Juniors and Juventus. And since there was an arms race going on, our club need a player who has a reputation and universal appeal. Of course, in the end, he is not living up to those expectations. But he keeps working very hard to be in contention to play.”
“As for whether or not to extend his contract next year, it has to be a mutual choice. His future hinges on the outcome of further negotiations between the two parties.”
AVB rumoured to be nearing the SIPG exit
Having also fallen short of expectations this season, Andre Villas-Boas might not find himself quite so lucky at SIPG with reports suggesting that the Portuguese manager will soon leave the club. Yahoo Sport claim Villas-Boas agreed to leave his position immediately after the away-goal defeat to Shenua, which has led some English outlets to begin linking him with the vacant managerial position at Everton. If true, you’ll certainly have a good challenge on your hands there, Andre.
SIPG have had a disappointing season in which no silverware has been won following a semi-final exit in the AFC Champions League to eventual winners Urawa Red Diamonds, while Guangzhou Evergrande won the CSL comfortably as usual.
A return to the Premier League seems possible for AVB as he arguably has unfinished business in the league, though after failing to achieve success with both Chelsea and Tottenham he would be considered a risky appointment to many clubs. As for who would replace AVB as head coach at SIPG, there has been little news of the club’s potential thinking which is understandable given that the news Villas-Boas is set to leave is still relatively fresh.