Tang Jiali's Road to Stay in the Ocean: Challenges and Growth
In the heat of battle, our women's soccer player Tang Jiali showed her style.
At the break of dawn on the 14th, our women's soccer player Tang Jiali helped Tottenham Hotspur Women's Football Club to seal the win, scoring a crucial goal in the first round of the League Cup group stage match against Charlton Women's Football Club.
The goal was her maiden goal in her overseas campaign, marking a new chapter in her career. After crossing the milestone, Tang Jiali accepted an exclusive interview with reporters and shared her journey after staying overseas.
Faster-paced practice, a more independent lifestyle, and continued improvement in language skills ...... These brand new experiences are both stressful and challenging for Jiali Tang, but more growth and rewarding.
Talking about the wish to return to the national team, Tang Jiali confessed, "Of course I am eager to return, but after all, I am not the coach, everything still needs to be the coach's choice and tactical arrangements."
First goal, long awaited breakthrough
In the League Cup match against Charlton Women's Soccer, Tang Jiali scored the only goal of the match and became the key to her team's victory. Talking about the goal, she said, "I've been waiting for this goal for so long, I thought that only after I scored this goal would it be the real start of my stay."
Although she had previously scored in warm-up matches, the key goal in the official match meant a lot to her. The goal also eased the pressure on her and she was congratulated by her coach and teammates.
"I also hope to be able to grind with the team more tacit understanding, now with the coach and teammates more and more sense of tacit understanding." Tang Jiali told reporters.
Despite having some basic English, Tang Jiali still needs more time to be able to communicate with her teammates and coaches without barriers.
"Of course there are some obstacles, but I can feel myself gradually adapting to the speed of their speech, and sometimes I can understand them and they make a point of communicating with me, including techniques and tactics."
In addition to training and competing, the club provided her with an English teacher for online lessons.
The most noticeable feeling: the pace is faster here.
Despite staying in the ocean for a short period of time, Tang Jiali has already felt the difference between the Premier League women's soccer team and the domestic women's soccer team in training and competition.
In her opinion, the biggest difference is "fast", whether it's speed, physical confrontation or tactics, the pace is significantly faster.
"Because of the fast pace, there is a need to get the ball out quickly, long passes, and for the other team to be in position quickly when they get the ball, there is no time to rest."
In order to achieve such a fast pace, Don Chia-Li needs to work on her athleticism in her daily training.
Here, you have to do everything yourself.
In addition to the challenges of soccer, Tang Jiali has encountered many difficulties living overseas.
Despite the club's help in the living area, there were still many chores that she had to deal with personally.
"It's hard work, but it's part of growing up. At home, you might have leaders and others taking care of things for you, but here, you need to do it on your own."
Tang Jiali said that living abroad has made her more independent and has made her appreciate life at home more.
Directions: Become the centerpiece of the team
Before she left the country, Tang Jiali brought hot pot base and snail powder with her, hoping it would come in handy while living overseas. Although the team provided brunch, she had to take care of dinner on her own.
She hopes to take her soccer abilities to the next level by staying and working out, as well as becoming a centerpiece of the team.
Tang Jiali said she will work hard to gain the trust of her coaches and teammates and gradually become the team's mainstay and eventually the team's centerpiece.
Must want to return to our women's soccer team
At this year's Tokyo Olympics, Tang Jiali was unable to make the roster of our women's soccer team due to injury, much to her regret.
Nonetheless, she still aspires to wear the national team's uniform and fight for her country.
"Of course I would like to return, but everything is still subject to the coach's choices and tactical arrangements."
Tang Jiali said she believes the experience of staying in the ocean will help her play better in the national team.
