Knocking on the door of victory in only 18 minutes, Shen Mengyu's goal not only shook the stadium, but also aroused the enthusiasm of countless fans. She skillfully controlled a long pass from her teammates, followed by a powerful shot through the opponent's net, such a wonderful goal that even the local Scottish commentator couldn't help but exclaim: "Shen Mengyu's first touch is a masterpiece."
However, there is a little-known story behind this goal. In an interview with a surging news reporter, Shen Mengyu revealed that she had planned to perform a celebration after the goal - it was in the exchange of young players that she and the club participated in together, a female soccer player gave her inspiration.
"A little girl told me that she wanted me to do something like dancing after I scored a goal. The moment I scored the goal, I had already thought of a celebration move in my mind, but I was 'crushed' by my teammates before I had a chance to show it." The teammates pressed Shen Mengyu down and celebrated the goal together.
"It was actually quite a tough game to win. Both sides went back and forth, and there was one man missing (Celtic were sent off one man in the 39th minute)." Shen Mengyu said after the game.
"We were all so excited when we came down and called each other teammates 'superstars'. After the game the bus drove straight back to the park where there was an end of season party for us and a small celebration." Shen Mengyu holds the Scottish Cup winner's trophy.
Constantly breaking through
In addition to the Scottish Cup title, Celtic women's football team also gained the League Cup title this season, realizing the double crown. Looking back on the road to stay in the ocean, Shen Mengyu, who played an important role in both championships, said she was pleasantly surprised by the rewards of staying in the ocean.
"To be honest, I didn't think too much about it (when I first started my stay), and now that I've got these two titles, it does feel like a bit of a surprise."
"Competitive sports, since you're in the sport, you must want to win games and championships. So I think we ended up with a championship and it was kinda a successful season for me."
This season, Shen Mengyu collected 5 goals and 10 assists as a midfielder, but she thinks she still has a lot of room for improvement in the future. Shen Mengyu took a group photo with her teammates.
"There are quite a few areas that could be better, if you look at the stats we have midfielders in our team that have scored eight goals as well and even strikers that have scored 40 goals in a season, there is still a big gap."
"I want to score more goals next season as well, and I've integrated relatively well in the first season. But next season will be a different team because some of my teammates are out of contract and there will be new players joining the team, so it's a new start again next season and hopefully I can come up with a satisfactory answer sheet."
According to Celtic's plans, there will be a regrouping at the beginning of July, so Shen Mengyu will now be able to have a short break and finally have a chance to get around the UK, "Haven't been to Liverpool or Manchester yet, would like to go and see more."
As for longer-term planning, Shen Mengyu still follow their own mind: "In fact, there is no set a ceiling for themselves, such as how many years to stay in the ocean, or depends on the current situation." Shen Mengyu has been fully integrated into the overseas league.
Integration into a new environment is also a form of growth
In the first year of stay in the foreign countries can come up with such a stunning performance, Shen Mengyu's outstanding performance on the field thanks to her in the usual training to stay in the life of the foreign countries quickly integrated.
The threshold of language, the unfamiliarity of the living environment, the loneliness of being away from family and friends at home ...... These are the challenges that players who stay in the ocean have to face, and there is no exception for Shen Mengyu.
"I actually think that when you arrive in an unfamiliar environment, there are definitely difficulties, but you're also able to gain a lot in the process of that difficulty."
"If you don't visualize it as a very difficult thing, but rather enjoy the process of digesting that difficulty, then when you get through that time, you will have a sense of satisfaction." Shen Mengyu told Raging News. In terms of language barrier, Shen Mengyu participated in the English class to improve, and now the communication with teammates and coaches has been much smoother. In our spare time, we also make appointments to go on trips, get-togethers and so on.
Recalling such a process of getting through the adaptation period, Shen Mengyu did not forget to thank the help from all sides: "In fact, I was quite worried before staying in the ocean, like my friends and teammates will give me a lot of advice and ideas, gave me a lot of love."
"I was also lucky at the start at Celtic to have a couple of players who looked after me quite well, and they were right, that is really don't be shy, if you don't know something you have to ask, and if you still don't know something you just keep on asking because we're all very happy to help you with your answers and to listen to the difficulties you're having, so it's just about don't be shy and let go a bit." Shen Mengyu tries kayaking.
In the future, wear the uniform of our women's soccer team
Talking about the reason why she initially decided to go out to sea and stay in the ocean, Shen Mengyu said her goal was actually very simple.
"It doesn't hurt to feel like you can give it a try and step out of the comfort zone you've been in to see what soccer is like out there and learn more about the culture of soccer abroad."
"I was also shown footage of their (Celtic Women's) competitions at the time and thought the physicality, the pace of the game was okay here. Relatively speaking physical confrontation is not my strength and that's where I want to come here to improve."
Coming to Europe, she did feel a different kind of soccer: "It's relatively a little bit more wide-open, or maybe it's because a couple of our team's frontcourt players are really fast, so sometimes our counterattacks are a little bit more direct."
However, the current coaching Celtic women's football manager from Spain, playing style emphasizes possession, which is also similar to Shen Mengyu in the domestic playing Shanghai women's football.
"In the beginning maybe I was too focused on the fact that I was going to pass the alignment and was more hesitant and torn and didn't quite know what they wanted. Now then, the cooperation has a foundation, relatively more tacit understanding." Shen Mengyu said. Shen Mengyu celebrates our women's soccer team winning the Asian Cup.
Now after helping the Celtics take home two championship trophies, Shen Mengyu is ready to go after more with even more vigor.
"Because our club has won two cups, next season I hope to win three - plus the league." She told Raging News.
In addition, she also has a greater desire, that is, one day, wearing the symbol of the national team honor of China's women's football uniform.
China's women's soccer team won the Asian Cup in February this year, Shen Mengyu watched every game of China's women's soccer team, "Sisters are very good, see them play the game I'm also very excited."
"When I'm going through a bad time in a race, for some reason, they come to my mind and it's like I have to step up and keep going again, and that's how my sisters have influenced me."
"I hope that if I get the chance after that, based on my continuous hard work, I will be able to wear the national team jersey and stand and play on the international stage one day in the future."
