Shanghai Shenhua

The departure of its best players and a six-point deficit before the season even starts mean Shanghai Shenhua faces its most difficult season in the Chinese Super League.

Just days before the new CSL season, which begins on Friday, the Shanghai club completed its recruitment of domestic and foreign players to fill openings left by the departure of Cote d'Ivoire striker Didier Drogba, French striker Nicolas Anelka and former captain Yu Tao.