Wu Lei talks about his performance in the Chinese Super League and the national team
On March 15, Sports Weekly conducted an interview with Wu Lei, who talked about the current state of the Chinese Super League and the evolution of his personal role over the years.
On the competitive level of the Chinese Super League
Comparing to the Chinese Super League in 2017, the league now seems to lack that passion and excitement in terms of technical and tactical skills and spectacle. At that time, the Chinese Super League teams had a strong foreign aid lineup, which was very different from their training and game rhythm. Nowadays, the overall level of foreign aid has declined, and the environment for local young players to grow up is not as good as it should be.
How has the decline in the overall standard of the league affected domestic players? Has your role changed as a result?
In fact, my role has been evolving over time. 2013 was the year I first joined the CPL. At that time, the team didn't have many foreigners. The tacit understanding between our local players and the foreigners allowed me to take on more tasks and responsibilities. With the addition of Konka, Hulk and Oscar, my role in front of goal shifted, mainly to support them. After my experience in Europe and my return to Hong Kong, my role has adapted again, not only to take on more responsibilities in the game, but also to help my younger teammates grow. As I get older, I also actively seek to change and keep trying out new roles and positions. Nowadays, there are a lot of potential newcomers in the Hong Kong team, and it is my duty to guide and help them.
Next, let's talk about the national team! In last year's World Qualifier, you scored a crucial equalizer away from home in Thailand. At the time, the scene where you flew in to scoop the ball and hit the goal post was unforgettable.
This is the most basic duty of a striker! The ball is there, and as long as you have a chance to touch it, you should do your best (to shoot it in). At the time, I thought the ball could possibly bounce into the net on its own, and I had no other thoughts in my head... It's the striker's instinct and what I should do for the team.
