In the early hours of November 7, the Chinese team will soon depart from Shanghai and arrive in Dubai, UAE, across thousands of mountains, in order to take part in two Round of 12 matches in Sharjah this month. In this team, striker Wu Lei, from Espanyol, will depart from Barcelona at night to join the national team after completing the 13th round of La Liga against Granada on November 6th. Despite his difficulties in getting enough playing time in the club, Wu Lei has been able to train consistently in a high-level soccer environment, maintain good physical condition and become the core of the forward line trusted by the national football team.
Journey in sync with the national football team
According to the official information released by the Chinese Football Association (CFA), the whole team will depart for Sharjah, UAE in the early morning of Nov. 7 to participate in the two home matches of the 12-team tournament against Oman on Nov. 11 and Australia on Nov. 16, according to the official release of the CFA. The coaching staff will optimize and adjust the existing lineup according to the demands of the matches, the physical condition of the players and the performance of the warm-up match on November 3rd.
Wu Lei's cross-country trip
Wu Lei will fly straight from Spain to the UAE to join up with the national football team. It is reported that he will play for Espanyol in the 13th round of La Liga on November 6 afternoon local time. The Chinese team is expected to arrive in Dubai in the early morning of the 7th local time, so Wu Lei is perfectly capable of rushing to the UAE after attending the La Liga match. Flight information shows that there are a limited number of direct flights from Barcelona to Dubai on Nov. 6, with one taking off at 8:25 p.m. local time on the 6th and arriving in Dubai at 5:55 a.m. the next morning. Wu Lei will be able to catch this flight without any problems even if he participates in the La Liga match.
La Liga journey has twists and turns
The process of preparing for and playing in this 12-team tournament has been challenging due to the epidemic. As the only player playing overseas, Wu Lei has also had a tough time traveling between his club and the national team. Recently, his performance in La Liga has not been ideal and he has struggled to get a chance to play. In the 12th round of La Liga on October 31st, he didn't come on as a substitute until the 89th minute, accumulating nine minutes on the pitch. Since returning to the club in mid-October, he has made three appearances for Espanyol, accumulating 58 minutes. In La Liga this season, he has made eight appearances and only three starts, with no goals or assists.
Courageous Wu Lei
Despite the difficulties he faced, Wu Lei never gave up. In his personal weekly journal, he wrote: "Every soccer player encounters problems on the field of play, which is a lesson that professional players must face. The attributes of the program determine the interdependence and contradiction between the individual and the collective. For me, it is important to understand my position and clarify the positioning at different stages and in different positions, so when I encounter difficulties, I still need to adjust my mindset and face them positively."
Pillars of the national football team's front line
Wu Lei has given more motivation and courage to the trust of the national team's coaching staff. Head coach Li Tie said that no matter what kind of difficulties Wu Lei encountered in Spaniards, the door of the national team is always open to him. From the first four rounds of the 12 rounds of the tournament, Wu Lei is still the most threatening player in the front line of the national football team. It is reported that during the period of Spain, Wu Lei and Li Tie maintain long-term communication, the coaching team of his physical condition and mental state as well known. Returning to the national team, Wu Lei can undoubtedly feel the warmth of home. As he arrived in the UAE at a similar time as the national football team, he will participate in the team's joint training throughout.
