Li Lei Interview Summary
Li Lei Interview Summary
The person who had the greatest influence on his soccer career
Li Lei: That has to be my former youth coach, when I was young, he taught me to play hard, to pay more than others, so that can change the family environment, after all, parents are ordinary workers. At that time, the simplest idea of playing soccer is to play soccer to improve family life, which is the goal of many children playing soccer.
What does the number 4 jersey mean?
Li Lei: In fact, there is no special meaning, because before Ting wear No. 4 in Guoan, I especially respect Ting, we are playing the position of wing back, he also gave me a lot of guidance, may not need too many words to teach you, you are present to observe his performance, training to observe his training, perhaps there is a great progress. So for me, Ting has really improved me technically and I admire his ability, so I chose number 4.
Which game sticks in your mind?
Li Lei: It was when I played my first game in the Chinese Super League, because I was not yet 18 years old, and the team had just experienced three consecutive defeats, and the coach let me start the fourth game. When the team just scored a goal, I made a not so calm action to send the ball to the center line, I did a shovel, and I got a red card and was sent off, I felt like the sky was going to fall down at that time, but fortunately the game was won, otherwise my career would not have reached this level now, right?
Who's your favorite at the left back position?
Li Lei: Before I like Real Madrid's left back Marcelo, he may play a little bit more gorgeous, the last few years may be due to his age increase, the physical state is going down, now I like Liverpool's left back Robertson, his including the ability to go back and forth, passing, pressing, under Klopp's system to play the best. I think he should be the best left back in the world now.
When did the idea of staying in the ocean first occur?
Li Lei: The first time I had the idea of going overseas was when I was in elementary school. When I first started learning English in elementary school, my teacher asked me, "What do you want to do when you learn English? I told her I wanted to play soccer abroad in the future. After 20 years, I never thought I could accomplish this goal.
Why Grasshopper?
Li Lei: At that time, when the president of Grasshopper approached me, I was not ready in my heart because after all, I had been playing in China for a long time and I was familiar with everything. However, after talking to him for an hour, I was determined to choose this team and stay in the ocean. It is true that with my current level of talent, it will be very difficult to go to the top five leagues, so I was ready to go to the second level of Europe, and after communicating with him, I had a preliminary plan. Maybe at my age, I can't make some good decisions. I think Grasshopper is a better team for me. The league in a small country doesn't have as much attention as the top five leagues, so I'll rely on my own efforts to get a chance to play. I also hope to have a foothold abroad and try to go to the top five leagues.
How's the German?
Li Lei: German may still be relatively poor, because at that time when Schmidt came to the time will be some simple hello, greet these, English can be, first in English communication, the club will arrange for me to take German lessons, I will be there to slowly learn, a little bit of integration.
How long did you sign with Grasshopper?
Li Lei: now signed a year and a half, I want to use this year and a half time to study, open up their horizons, to see what kind of advanced European soccer concepts, including their training and matches, this kind of high-intensity confrontation, to see if they can actually jump out of this comfort zone, to a horror of the circle to turn around.
Difference between Grasshopper games and domestic leagues?
Li Lei: I think the biggest difference is in the rhythm and physical confrontation, perhaps there is more attention to some physical confrontation and back and forth rhythm. In the first few years in China, when there were more foreign aiders, we were passing the ball to the foreign aiders, or maybe running the ball ourselves. In the first few years in China, when there were more foreign aiders, we were passing the ball to foreign aiders, or running around by ourselves, but in that place, no one is running around, and we must integrate into the collective.
Have you communicated with other players who have stayed in the country?
Li Lei: I can't talk about communication, because you made this decision, especially like my character, it's hard to change the decision. Maybe now do face many difficulties, including Chinese people go out to play football may not be recognized, people will think you are a soccer desert out of the people, and in my age. It's true that there are a lot of difficulties when you go abroad to play soccer. But the lesson they taught me is that if you hold on, it may be different. After all, I've signed a one-and-a-half-year contract, and I want to spend more time abroad in the future. I have to coordinate with my family, after all, they have sacrificed a lot for me. I hope that I will be able to hold out abroad and achieve my desired I hope that I will be able to achieve my goals abroad.
Talk about throwing away a steady income.
Li Lei: Since you chose to play abroad, you can no longer hold domestic standards to foreign clubs. You have to stick to what you choose. We all like money, but sometimes money is not so important compared to wishes.
Grasshopper has a Chinese background and his own joining will raise questions
Li Lei: Personally, if I had chosen to go abroad at this age, I would not have chosen to go abroad with some mission. The team there told me that they had analyzed my 2019 and 2020 videos for people and said that I might have a foothold in Europe. I wouldn't have been so determined to go abroad if I hadn't been recognized by the other side, including the sacrifices I made in many ways. You have to struggle on your own, and you certainly can't have a very comfortable environment like at home. I think this is normal, after all, there are all kinds of comments, I do not resent this.
Your own strengths and weaknesses
Li Lei: I now have a No. 3 player in the same position is the Albanian international footballer, there is a No. 28, is a versatile player, can play midfield, left, right, relatively young. 3 left foot footwork is better, more reliable pass, as a veteran is more experienced, reading the game ability, play very smart, often back to the assist. 28 comprehensive ability is relatively strong, I am also belong to the comprehensive ability of strong, you have to say that I have a particularly outstanding place, I do not; but you have to say that I have a particularly poor place is perhaps the right foot, except perhaps there is no particularly poor place. If you want to say that I have a special outstanding place, I don't have; but if you want to say that I have a special bad place, maybe it's the right foot, except for this maybe there is no special bad place. Therefore, you have to compete, you need to play out your own interests, move the coach from training, change the coach's point of view on you, some of the views of our Chinese players.
Own work objectives
Li Lei: The work goal is of course to help the national team to reach the World Cup. Including myself to go abroad to play soccer, I also hope very much to help the national team, to accumulate some experience against high-level players. In Chinese Super League, the overall pace is not so fast, kicking to the intercontinental competition is really more difficult. I hope to help the national team through my own efforts, because representing the national team in the World Cup is the highest honor for a player. I think it's the highest honor for a player to be able to show himself and represent his country on the highest stage.
What time period would you most like to return to?
Li Lei: I'd like to go back to 2017, when Schmidt first came here, and that was probably when I was in the best physical condition, when I was 25 years old. I hope that at that time I can have the same mature mind as now. At that time, I just entered the national team, and played a few years of good soccer at Guoan, and it's true that my mentality was a little bit drifting at that time. Maybe now the mentality is more mature, a lot of work to accept up, can be many kinds of direction to see. But at that time the viewpoint of the problem may be very one-sided. It is true that the technical and tactical, including their own on and off the field some things, not too self-discipline. On the contrary, I am now very thankful for that time, I do now want to go back to that time more, and expect to have the mentality now. Many young players will be like that too, this is something you need to experience for yourself, if you never experience it, you will never feel this way.
Words to the fans
Li Lei: I would like to say thank you to my fans and friends, I have received more wishes since my official announcement of joining Grasshopper. I hope the fans will continue to support me. After all, Chinese soccer is in a relatively low stage and needs more young players and more fans to support Chinese soccer. Maybe in the future there will be many young players going abroad to play soccer, which will bring a lot of help to Chinese soccer. I hope that the fans will support Chinese soccer from the beginning to the end, and also support me, and pay more attention to my matches in Europe.
