Bilic, the former manager of Beijing Guoan, has praised Zhang Yuning as the top player in the Central League, and this is true. Bilic, a player who has spent many years in the English Premier League and played for a World Cup quarter-finalist, has a unique vision. Zhang Yuning scored twice in two consecutive matches in the crucial Chinese Super League tournament, helping the team into the title race with his outstanding performance and establishing his position as the centerpiece of the team.
In an exclusive interview after the match, Zhang Yuning revealed that he was "physically and mentally exhausted", but he was delighted with his efforts as he started the first 14 rounds of the first phase of the Chinese Super League, scoring six goals and making two assists. The young man is physically and mentally prepared for the upcoming closed training and matches of the national team. "Fighting for the country and stepping onto the field is an honor in itself. Staying in the ocean has also been my life choice. If the country needs me, I will not hesitate to go out of the country!" Zhang Yuning said firmly.
When returning to the premises after defeating Shenhua 4-2 with Guoan, Beiqing-Beijing headline reporter talked to Zhang Yuning's father, Zhang Quancheng, about his son's performance. Zhang Quancheng did not because of his son's successive goals and complacent, but instead revealed as a father to the child's understanding, trust and heartache. He said: "This year's Spring Festival, Yu Ning only stayed at home (Wenzhou) for three days, which is the last time we met. I don't know exactly what his next arrangements are, but he is about to go to the national team and the break will only be a few days. Head coach Bilic is right, there is no time to practice together, and it is really difficult to practice with one game in 3 days. So it's not easy for Yu Ning and the national coaches and teammates."
Regarding the results Zhang Yuning delivered in the first stage of this season's Chinese Super League, Zhang Quancheng commented, "Perhaps before the Guoan team is still a bit dependent on foreign aid. Yuning's role is actually still near the penalty area. The important thing is that he has no distractions in the game, and coaches like players without distractions."
Zhang Yuning returned to the resident, he quickly recovered calm from the excitement after scoring. He commented on his performance in the first phase of the league, "I should be satisfied. Although there were a few scoring chances in the first few games that I didn't capitalize on, I was able to score smoothly in the later key games, and I'm very happy to help the team advance to the title contenders' group."
This season's Chinese Super League is different compared to the past, and Zhang Yuning knows it well. He said: "This season due to the epidemic and the system, our team has a few foreign aid did not come back, now can play only Bakanbu a foreign aid. The team does play differently than before, so I also have to play some different roles on the field, perhaps sometimes to participate in more plus some arrangement of the attack, including the task of the tandem, and sometimes to try some side breakthroughs, so that the team in the offense to create more time and space."
In the two key matches of Guoan's 14th round match against Yatai and 8th round bye match against Shenhua, Zhang Yuning performed two good plays in succession, becoming the team's top contributor to the championship group. This is due to both Zhang Yuning's solid soccer skills and the mature mentality he has shown on the field. Many insiders, including members of the national team, exclaimed, "Yuning has grown the ball."
In this regard, Zhang Yuning believes that to be able to get the trust of the coach in the club and the national team, the growth of technology and mentality can be described as a waterfall. He said, "Both the club and national team levels have allowed me to make progress, and the experience of the Top 40 is very important. Because in very difficult circumstances, we inevitably experience long training sessions, and such an environment is also a kind of sharpening for me. After arriving at the Suzhou tournament, the league played one game in three days, which was also a test for myself mentally to achieve the results the team wanted, and I think this is the most important one."
"What is the plan after the end of the league?" To this question, Zhang Yuning replied: "Now is to want to go back home to lie down and rest, too tired, for the time being, there is no plan, can chat with the family, talk about the heart can be."
In Zhang Quancheng's opinion, his son doesn't necessarily have great talent, but he has always been diligent, down-to-earth, and has a heart for progress. "I still understand Yu Ning better. Saying more is not helpful, I will not nag him, but he and I traditionally have not relaxed on their own requirements. How he is like to play soccer is actually visible to all of us. I just expect him to keep his feet on the ground and not to wish or perhaps fantasize about anything." Zhang Quancheng said.
Zhang Yuning is indeed not a person on paper, about the upcoming Top 12, he said: "wait until the time of the game, now is to want to take a good rest. the Top 12 there is no weak team. When we get to the field, we will fight bravely, it is a great honor to stand on the field and fight for our country."
In the Chinese Super League Association launched the players to stay in the program, there are three male players among the initial lineup, in addition to Taishan team center Guo Tianyu and his club teammate Duan Liuyu, there is one is Zhang Yuning. About the program, Zhang Yuning said, "At the beginning of the stay in the ocean, of course, is to help themselves. I also sincerely hope that more young players can go abroad to enrich their experience, because the experience of playing overseas is indeed a crucial role in the growth of a person. My next step is to do a good job for myself and help the team achieve the desired results, and then I will realize the enhancement of my self-worth. As for staying overseas, I've said many times that it will always be an option for me. If the country needs me to go overseas, I will not hesitate to go out."
Regarding the next national team training, games and collective life, Zhang Yuning has also prepared himself physically and mentally. He said, "It's true that long training sessions and matches will test players both physically and mentally. But nowadays, affected by the epidemic, we have to implement various epidemic prevention regulations. I expect to be able to summarize the experience of the Top 40 in such a difficult situation, and the whole team will unite together to carry on together, and strive to play well in the Top 12 to repay the fans across the country."
