On March 13, the night of Shenzhen, China's men's football team is intense preparation for training, striker Zhang Yuning in the training gap to accept an impromptu interview with reporters.
Speaking about new coach Ivankovic, Zhang Yuning commented, "He's a pretty easy-going guy, which gives us more time to ourselves and makes training more efficient. The atmosphere of the team is much more relaxed now, and the welcoming ceremony for new members to join the team has helped us to integrate more quickly, and the cohesion has increased significantly."
When asked about the short preparation period, Zhang Yuning said, "With only 10 days, we have to quickly understand the coach's tactical intentions and clarify our goals. The coach is very demanding technically and tactically, and he encourages us to use our imagination and creativity to show ourselves on the pitch."
During the press conference, Ivankovic also emphasized the importance of self-confidence. Facing the first two matches against Singapore, he cautioned the team to ignore their opponents, focus on themselves, play a unique style and be bold.
Zhang Yuning also confessed that the failure to get out of the group stage of the Asian Cup is a huge blow to the national team. However, he believes that now is the time to adjust the mentality, face various opponents and challenges, and try to achieve the goal.
This is the ninth year that Zhang Yuning has joined the national team. Looking back on his growth, he said that from being a green youngster to a mid-generation player today, he needs to set an example for the younger players. At the same time, he also promises that he will give his best, both on and off the field, without forgetting his beginnings.
