Yunnan Yukun's new season departure ceremony
On March 5th in Beijing time zone, Yunnan Yukun FC, the newest team in China's first division, held a grand ceremony for the new season at Yuxi Highland Sports Center. Head coach Li Jin Yu received an exclusive interview with the media after the ceremony. Talking about the latest foreign aid policy, Li said that this policy seems to have a far-reaching impact on the Chinese Super League, which means a brand new challenge for every participating team.
Li Jin Yu further elaborated, "China's first division has not yet kicked off, so it is difficult to predict exactly what changes will be made to the league as a result of the change in foreign aid policy. However, the impact on the Chinese Super League should not be underestimated. After all, in addition to the five foreign aid quotas, some teams may also have naturalized players as well as Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan players. As a result, some teams may have as many as six foreign players at a time, which will undoubtedly bring a significant increase in the league's spectacle and the pace of competition. This year's league is significantly faster and more difficult than last year. Although the China First Division currently has only three foreign player slots, each team has set a clear goal.
Asked about his prediction of the overall situation in the China First Division this season, Li Jin Yu said, "As a new army, even if we are well prepared, it will take time to adapt to a higher level of the league. This year's team has a big change in its lineup, with many excellent players joining, but we still need to keep honing in on the details and strive to excel in the games."
Yukon Club has invested heavily this season, with an estimated total investment of close to 100 million dollars. Despite being a newcomer to the First Division, Yukon Club has attracted a lot of attention from the outside world. Talking about this, Li Jinyu emphasized that the team's biggest advantage lies in its relatively stable management. "Before this, there could be some instability in the operation of Chinese soccer. Since I joined, I've poured a lot of effort into protecting the players. Our Chairman Cai has also been committed to creating a family-like atmosphere for the players and has given great emotional support. We probably won't expand blindly like some of the big clubs."
Regarding the goals for the new season, Li Jin Yu was blunt: "We believe that the goals for this season are relatively low key, with the top priority being relegation. The China A-League is still relatively unfamiliar territory for many players. Although we have a number of Chinese Super League players, we also have a number of players from last year's China B-League. Therefore, we need to familiarize ourselves with the pace of play in the A-League. In addition, the team's newly imported foreign aiders will also need time to adapt. This year, we will learn more about other teams.
"I have watched some of the matches in the first round of the year and the commitment and preparation of the teams has been excellent. I think the difficulties and challenges encountered are actually similar despite the different situations faced by different leagues at different levels." Lee Kim Yu said, "When I was coaching the B-League, there were a lot of variables in the matches, more chance, and more individual mistakes by the players. It was crucial that we not only beat our opponents but also show ourselves in the game. When we were promoted to the A-League, we needed more pace and variety in the game."
Talking about whether the 1,700-meter plateau environment of Yuxi constitutes a home field advantage, Li Jin Yu responded humorously, "Everyone will think it's an advantage, but the actual impact is minimal. If we don't perform well, neither the weather nor the home field advantage can change the result. The most important thing is to do everything we do."
