"I've observed that Zhang Yuning is naturally gifted with exceptional soccer talent, and in fact, he's been playing quite well since before last year. However, he has yet to become the centerpiece of the attacking line, and the burden then fell on others' shoulders. However, for me, Zhang Yuning is undoubtedly our best striker. As for Yu Dabao, he is the real leader of the team, with that unique temperament and leadership. In the future, we will also see Yu Dabao and Ji Zhongguo. I've always had a soft spot for Ji Zhongguo, I just couldn't get enough of him. Today, he is more mature and stable, and his chants on the field are even more powerful."
"It's important to mention that when I first arrived, Liu Huan wasn't a widely known player; he was more of a role player, both starting and substituting. But this year, he had his perfect season and I believe he will be a valuable asset to the team in the coming seasons as well."
Talking about the challenges of this season, Bilic admitted: "The Premier League is facing such great difficulties that I often hear about problems at one club or another. It's natural for players to have grievances, as it is with any club, and it's natural for them to be upset when they don't get paid on time. As in the case of Guangzhou, at first we were skeptical that they would be able to participate in the tournament, but in the end we overcame the difficulties, showed unity and perseverance, and even ended the whole season with a third place finish. No team in the entire league could keep their spirit intact in such a difficult situation."
"Immediately after Suzhou, the Guoan team held a meeting, as well as several meetings during our time in Guangzhou, to discuss the difficulties the team is currently experiencing, especially the financial problems. I must commend the players for the determination we showed in the meetings, being able to put aside our difficulties for the time being and focus on the game."
We all realize that the clubs are facing difficulties right now and are in tough times. In the Chinese Super League, only four clubs are in a relatively stable situation. The entire club management, including Mr. Zhou, are doing their best to solve the problem.
Finally, Bilic talked about his feelings about leaving Guoan, saying, "I think China is an amazing country and I personally regret not bringing my family here to experience it all. In fact, when I was preparing to sign for Guoan a year ago, my plan was to bring my family over and live in China for a few years because it's a great place to live. It's safe to say that I came to the right country, but not at the right time. Likewise, I came to a good club, but also at the wrong time. It's not that everything is bad for me here. Both in soccer and in my personal life, it may not have been what I originally expected, but I don't regret it at all, instead I love deeply all the people I've met, I love deeply this club, and we've all tried to do the best we can."
"Beijing will always remain in my heart, thank you for everything you have given, bless this team and the fans, Guoan will always fight for the first place." (DD)
