In an interview with Xinhua News Agency, Kenichi Uemura, head coach of China's U16 men's national soccer team, gave an in-depth analysis of the team's current situation and growth. He admitted that this group of young players enjoys a high level of attention and praise at home, but the international matches have made them deeply realize the gap between them and the world's best teams. "Such comparisons not only enable the players to face up to their shortcomings, but also motivate them to keep working hard and pursue excellence." Kenichi Uemura emphasized that through international matches, teams and individuals are able to gain valuable self-positioning and clarify their position of strength globally and within Asia.
When talking about the team's progress during the training period, Kenichi Uemura specifically mentioned the remarkable results of the physical training. "In the beginning, some players felt overwhelmed by the high-intensity training, but now the team's physical condition has improved greatly." He pointed out that the success of the physical training was due to the rigorous workouts the team experienced during their previous stretches abroad. At the same time, the players' ability to read the game and make decisions has improved significantly, which has enabled them to be more confident in making the right judgments and choices on the field.
Chinese U16 defender Sun Tianyu also shared his growing experience in the interview. He recalled the fierce duel with Borussia Mönchengladbach's ladder team during the training in Germany, saying that the experience of that game impressed him deeply. "The opponent's striker was 1 meter 95 and we had never met such an opponent before." Sun Tianyu said, "But it was challenges like that that taught us how to play against tall, strong players and how to stay calm and confident under pressure."
Sun Tianyu also mentioned that the team's physical training has made significant progress under the strict requirements of the head coach. "Now our physical condition is much better than before, which makes us more relaxed in the game." He said the head coach encourages the players to think more and observe the changes on the field, which plays an important role in improving their decision-making and game-reading skills. "The head coach will give us advice, but ultimately it's up to us to play the game." Sun Tianyu said, "We will continue to work hard and strive for better results in future matches."
