Crunch time for Shanghai savior Villas-Boas

SHANGHAI - Shanghai SIPG coach Andre Villas-Boas faces a critical four weeks that will define his time in China, starting with the AFC Champions League semifinal first leg at home to Urawa Red Diamonds on Wednesday.

Villas-Boas' team, boasting the likes of Brazilian internationals Hulk and Oscar, is in the hunt for the treble in the former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager's first season in China.

Shanghai squeezed into the last four of the continent's premier club competition on penalties against Guangzhou Evergrande and is also battling Luiz Felipe Scolari's men for the domestic cup and the Chinese Super League.