July 28, 2011 - As the core of the midfield of Shenzhen New Pengcheng, Zhang Yudong is one of the players with the most appearances and game time in the team. Recently, he accepted the official interview of Shenzhen New Pengcheng Club and shared his soccer career experience.
You were born and raised in Shanghai and started your career here, how did you fall in love with soccer and become a professional player?
Zhang Yudong: Many of my friends started playing soccer when they were in kindergarten, but I didn't get into the sport until I was in first grade, so I'm kind of a late starter. In Shanghai, youth training in soccer is very popular. At that time, the teachers at school thought I was good at soccer, and I gradually developed the habit of playing soccer. When I was in junior high school, my level was not bad, and then I entered the Genbao soccer base in Chongming, received professional training, and gradually embarked on the road to professional development.
It takes courage to leave one's home town to pursue a career, what factors prompted you to choose to join Shenzhen Xinpengcheng?
Zhang Yudong: In 2012, I got my first opportunity to play in the Chinese Super League with Shanghai Shenxin. In those years, I gained a lot of experience in the CSL with the team. However, Shenxin was then relegated to the Central League, and some problems ensued. At that time, I had to face realistic choices because life needed to be considered. So, I decided to try outside and joined Kunshan. Later, after discussing with my family, I decided to represent Shenzhen Xinpengcheng in the Chinese Super League.
What's the biggest change this season with the promotion from the First Division to the Super League?
Zhang Yudong: I am well aware that the gap between the Chinese League and the Chinese Super League is much bigger than people think. The intensity of the game and the quality of the players are fundamentally different between the Chinese Super League and the Chinese League One. In many cases, you can't feel the intensity of the game and the intensity of the confrontation just through photos and game videos. When you actually walk onto the field of play, you will realize that many things are very different from what you originally imagined.
After the break, the team has improved its performance in the last few games. What steps have you and your teammates taken to help the team out of its previous difficulties?
Zhang Yudong: As a newcomer to the Chinese Super League, we need to be well prepared for difficulties in the first year. As I said, there is a big gap between the Chinese Super League and the Chinese League One. For our club, this is a brand new league and we need to go through the process of adaptation. For now, our goal is to minimize the adaptation time while fully preparing for the difficulties. There are only 30 rounds in the league and time is very limited. My teammates and I are working hard and I believe our team will get stronger and stronger.
