Chengdu soccer back in the Chinese Super League
By Zhao Botong, Special Correspondent: In the first 90 minutes of the last match and the first 72 minutes of the second match, Dalian Ren center back Danielson was like an impenetrable wall against Chengdu Rongcheng's offense. Although Liu Ruofan's shot in the 72nd minute failed to break through the barrier, Romulo's powerful shot was refracted after hitting Danielson, and Rongcheng finally opened the door to victory.Chengdu Rongcheng defeated Dalian Ren 1-0 in the afternoon of January 12, 2022, eliminating their rivals with a 2-1 record in the two-legged match. This was Chengdu's return to the Chinese Super League after 3,728 days and 10 years!
On October 29, 2011, Chengdu Sheffield United was relegated one round ahead of schedule. By January 12, 2022, Chengdu soccer finally returned to the Chinese Super League after 10 years of waiting and 3,728 days of anticipation.
On November 2, 2011, Chengdu Sheffield United drew with Guangzhou Evergrande, the new Chinese Super League champion, in the final round of the Chinese Super League at Chengdu Sports Center. After the match, head coach Niu Hongli bid farewell with tears in his eyes. That team was not weak, but had to sell its main players in the middle of the season due to financial problems, making it the toughest Chinese Super League team of the year.
The last time Chengdu soccer super is in 2010, that year was penalized relegation of Chengdu Sheffield United easily early super success. Feng Zhuoyi of that year's team clearly remembers: "The last time the super really didn't feel much, that year I was injured didn't play a few matches, of course, the most important thing is that the troops were very strong at that time, from the beginning of the league felt that there wasn't much of a challenge." After 11 years, Feng Zhuoyi as the main center of the players again super, "this time is different, this time we experienced too difficult, this time is considered to be the bone."
This year's Central League was held in closed session throughout the whole tournament, spanning a large period of time, and the Rongcheng team was playing all away games, which was very difficult for the veteran players in the Rongcheng team who have families. Not being able to see their families for long periods of time, especially with their children in mind, was probably the most tormenting stage for this group of fathers.
"From the time the team was established in 2018 and proposed a five-year Super League run, I thought I could return to the Super League with the team. After the Korean coaching staff came this year, the training volume was huge, and a few of us veteran players carried it through. In the middle of the team's performance fluctuations, we have never given up, always adhere to the feeling that can be super is to complete the final, the most important work of the working career, I believe that to the Super League channel, the club will attract more excellent young players to take over." Rongcheng captain Gan Rui accepted the interview after the match with a smiling face.
This duel with the Dalian people team, Gan Rui with injuries with closed into the game, as a veteran has been fighting to the final stage, only to take the initiative to imply that the coaching table change. As a Chongqing people, Gan Rui for Chengdu soccer contributed their last strength, the last time to save Sichuan soccer is also Chongqing people - Yao Xia.
After the fluctuating results of Rongcheng in the third stage of the season, Yao Xia and Wei Qun were stationed in the team, closed with the team, and after the key competition in the fourth stage began, the team's spirit was renewed, and this state of affairs lasted until the play-offs, and the spirit of the two former idols gave the team a great encouragement. Behind the greater support from the Chengdu Football Association, especially in the third stage of the league, head coach Xu Zhengyuan mother passed away, the club is particularly worried about Xu Zhengyuan therefore returned to South Korea, even if the normal return, during the period of time due to the epidemic prevention policy will also be delayed a lot of competitions.
"At that time are afraid of him to go back, once back, maybe he will also choose with Shenhua head coach the same no longer come back, in a foreign country for a long time closed practice, competition, this situation for a foreign coach how difficult can be imagined." The good thing is that through communication and comfort, including Xu Zhengyuan's own attitude, and finally came to the end of the season. After the success of the super, Xu Zhengyuan almost also in tears after the game to recall the death of his mother, "the third stage of the league, I did not go back after the death of his mother, I gave this super gift to his mother, which is my mother and I came to China before the agreement, I am very happy to complete our agreement."
No one will understand the hardship of Seo Jung-won, in the league, he once because the assistant coach violated the rules of the team and fired the coach he brought; he also suffered a lot of criticism from the outside world, especially Xie Hui, "he does not know soccer" comments, as a self-respecting Korean coaches, he is looking forward to the final results to prove themselves, "I have always believed that sports do not lie, who can endure hardship, sweat more in training, who will have a fair result. "I have always believed that sports programs do not lie, who can suffer, who sweats a lot in training, will have a fair result in the game. This year we have experienced high times and low times, and when we encountered setbacks, I told the team that we can only get better results through harder training, and all the players have grown by coming this far today."
After the super, Xu Zhengyuan first thanked the Xingcheng Group. In such a soccer environment, Xingcheng Group on the team to provide full financial security, especially in the selection of foreign aid, simply Xu Zhengyuan put forward the requirements, have been satisfied.
Next, Xu Zhengyuan also thanked the Chengdu Football Association. Xu Zhengyuan can come to Chengdu to coach, can say a large part from the Chengdu Football Association's unremitting efforts, in the Xu Zhengyuan hesitation, Chengdu Football Association even through the Asian Football Confederation and the Korean Football Association good contact to give Xu Zhengyuan confidence.
"I told him, you can go to the AFC and the KFA and ask around, how good is the Chengdu FA at doing the job, and they can also act as a guarantee that we will give the team support in terms of funding and logistics, and that we are aiming for the long term as well." Chengdu FA president Koo still remembers what happened when he first invited Xu Zhengyuan.
At the time of the team's fluctuating performance, Xu Zhengyuan and the Chengdu Football Association has also suffered criticism, but the Xingcheng Group senior leadership's strong belief in the eventual exchange of the team ahead of schedule to complete the five-year Super League club goals. "Thank you for the congratulations of old and new friends, quietly in the conference room to enjoy this joy and loneliness, but also an unforgettable experience in life, quite good." Koo wrote in his circle of friends after the team's Super League run.
In fact, when Chengdu lacked a working saloon team, the Chengdu Football Association reported and brought it to the attention of higher authorities through various channels, which eventually led to the establishment of the Xingcheng Saloon. With the completion of Chengdu's dedicated Phoenix Hill soccer stadium and the upcoming Asian Cup, Chengdu is once again back in the center circle of Chinese soccer. During last week's CFA Executive Committee meeting in Chengdu, CFA leaders praised Chengdu's youth training system.
At the same time, Xingcheng Group also on the club's own hematopoietic function of the layout in advance, now under the banner of the Rongcheng Club has a lot of Xingcheng Group's high-quality assets to protect the club has a certain hematopoietic function, in addition, Xingcheng Group's projects related to the sports industry is also attributed to the club, which can also protect the club's retired players and young players in the future of the life of the road will not be lost. This model has been widely recognized during the meeting of the Executive Committee of the CFA, providing a new way of thinking for the future development of the club.
