After 16 years of silence, China's women's soccer team climbed to the top of the Asian Cup again on February 6, with great achievements and high spirits, triggering enthusiastic reactions from fans and all walks of life.
The following day, Beijing women's soccer head coach Yu Yun published a message in his circle of friends, but did not expect the message was quickly drowned in a sea of discussion...
Screenshots of his friend's circle show that Yu Yun sent a message to several members of the media at 3:38 am. He wrote thus:
"Do your best! Don't try to survive the heat of the moment! Thankful for the icing on the cake, eager for the snow!"
On February 5, the Beijing women's soccer team departed for Zhangzhou, Fujian, marking the official opening of the four-year Games cycle.
Yu Yun's guidance seems to be very sober about "rubbing it in".
Photo from China Women's Soccer Official Weibo
Yu Yun said in an interview:
q: After winning the Asian Cup, do you often talk to people about women's soccer?
a: In the days of winning the championship, many people paid attention to the women's soccer team. The main talk was about the women's soccer team's fighting spirit and the significance of winning the championship. But more than that, it was people's feelings about the contrast between women's and men's soccer, and there were a few days of heat.
q: What is the situation for frontline soccer workers?
a: Pretty much. I think it is almost the same. All parties in society attach importance to and recognize women's football, especially for this Chinese women's football team, they have given great support. But the actual (situation) still need to be combined with the actual, will not come so fast.
Yu Yun further pointed out that the players of this Chinese women's national team are getting probably the best treatment in recent years, but the situation of local women's soccer is not optimistic.
In 2016, Beijing Xiannongtan Gymnasium partnered with Beizhong Real Estate to establish the Beizhong Phoenix Women's Football Club. However, from the end of 2020, Beijin Land stopped providing funds to the club, leading to Beijing Women's Football facing a tough year in 2021. International players such as Xu Huan and Zhang Linyan have left the team.
Earlier this year, the only current international player, Wang Yanwen, also decided to leave the Beijing women's soccer team to seek a more challenging platform. This, I'm afraid, is the reason for Yu Yun's late-night post.
Yu Yun, Beijing Women's Soccer Head Coach
q: At present, how is the relationship between the Beijing Women's Soccer Team and Bejing Real Estate?
a: There is no longer any relationship. If a new company is willing to sponsor the Beijing women's soccer team, there is no problem.
q: After winning the Asian Cup, are there any companies interested in sponsoring the Beijing women's soccer team?
a: No.
q: Is it fair to say that the survival of women's soccer in Beijing is more difficult?
a: Yes.
q: As the team's head coach, do you have to worry about finding sponsors?
a: Actually, I think these are all things that the Sports Authority, the principals of the sports schools, the leaders, etc. are actively working on. It's a waste of time for me to worry about it. Everyone is working together to find sponsorship. But from my point of view, without the introduction of funds, it is impossible to maintain the stability of the team, which is related to the results and the development of the team. That's what I'm anxious about every day. I'm not anxious about finding money, but how to keep everyone stable.
q: What is the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau's policy on women's soccer?
a: The Sports Authority's policy is the same as in previous years, providing for the basic running of the team. Now that it's a Games year, the support will be better in all areas. But now it's the first year of a new cycle and leaders are taking it very seriously, but funding is still down compared to last year.
Ma Xiaoxu in training during the 2021 season
As the starting point of a four-year cycle, Yu Yun not only has to fulfill his season goals, but also has to consider the transition between the old and the new. The departure of many veteran players brings challenges to the team.
"Ma" Ma Xiaoxu and former captain Wang Chen officially joined the coaching staff from this year's winter training in Zhangzhou. Veteran Zhao Rong left the team and goalkeeper Chen Liang chose to retire. Powerhouse Gu Yasha has been loaned to Wuhan Chegu Dajiang, and current international player Wang Yanwen, hoping to develop on a more challenging platform, will represent Shanghai. After veteran Su Xin retired, Pu Shuyue was adjusted to Tianjin, and Jiangsu girl Lu Yu also left the Beijing women's soccer team.
In order to fill the vacancies and train newcomers, Yu Yun moved up 10 players from the ladder team and brought in Li Chiao and He Xiangnan from Tianjin and summoned He Zhaofen from Wuhan. He also mentioned a heavyweight reinforcement - captain Wang Shanshan.
On the addition of Wang Shanshan, Yu Yun said:
q: Why did you choose to bring in Wang Shanshan?
a: First of all, Beijing women's soccer team brought in suitable players such as He Xiangnan and He Zhaofen. With the retirement of Zhao Rong and Su Xin, there are no veteran players left in the team. Although Wang Shanshan is 31 years old, she performed well in the Asian Cup and has the role of on-field leader and balance between offense and defense.
Yu Yun also hopes that the new season of the Women's Super League can partially restore the home-and-away system, so that Beijing fans can see the top players at their doorstep.
The 2022 Women's Football Championship season will kick off on March 12 and the Women's Super League is scheduled to be played in stages in April. While the main task for the Chinese women's soccer team is the Asian Games, the league will make way for preparations and competitions.
However, due to the epidemic, the Women's Premier League will still use the conference system this year.
Beijing Women's Soccer Team Climbing Mountains in Winter Training at Haixi Ridge
Along with the adjustment of the player roster, the Beijing women's soccer team is also pushing forward with the rejuvenation of the coaching team. Ma Xiaoxu and Wang Chen have been trying their hand at coaching since the end of the league last year.
Ma Xiaoxu, once a gifted player, has now stepped up to the position of first-line coach of the Beijing women's soccer team, which is a great relief.
Yu Yun, Beijing Women's Soccer Head Coach
q: I noticed that both Wang Chen and Ma Xiaoxu have started working as coaches.
a: Yeah, they're all involved. I think we have a really good coaching staff. Me, Finger Zhang, Finger Chen, goalie coach Yao Jian, and Finger Ma, Finger Wang, Ma Xiaoxu and Wang Chen.
Every time I have a meeting, I emphasize the need for everyone to take initiative and specialize to make the team progress faster. Especially to give Ma Xiaoxu and Wang Chen more exercise opportunities, because their starting point is very high, with the national team's high-level athletic experience, and athletes closer. Old coaches have the advantages of old coaches, middle-aged coaches have the advantages of middle-aged coaches, and using young coaches is also a big plus.
Wang Chen, the previous captain of the Beijing women's soccer team, worked as a volunteer cameraman for Daily Sports in Kunming, with a lens as steady as an old dog.
Finally, let's take a look at the training and life of the Beijing women's soccer team in the Ridge of Kunming through a short video and say hello to them.
