In a news report on July 21, the 24th round of the Beijing-Tianjin derby in the Chinese Super League came to an end, with Guoan defeating the Jinmen Tigers 2-0 at home. In the second half, substitute Zhang Yuan had an eye-catching performance, a wonderful goal to lock the victory, and also contributed to Guoan's first score. After the match, Zhang Yuan reviewed his journey during this time in an interview with Beijing Youth Daily.
--Looking back at the last red card incident between the two teams in the 19th minute, how do you feel about today's "self-redemption"?
I was able to make a rare start in the Tianjin game. I knew that this opportunity was not easy to come by, so I worked even harder in the game. However, the psychological pressure made me not feel comfortable in the game. After I was sent off with a red card, I felt so guilty that I didn't complain even when I was on the bench. In the following days, I kept pushing myself and believed that my hard work would be rewarded in the end. I am very happy to score a goal today, it means a lot to me, and more importantly, it helps the team to win three valuable points.
-The story behind the tears after the goal
This year at Guoan has been a tough one for me. My tears are a testament to these difficult moments. But I'm glad I persevered. I'd like to thank all the people who have trusted, supported and helped me. My goal was a fresh start, I have no reason to celebrate yet, and I will continue to work hard to move forward.
