In 2018, Xie Weijun stepped into the camp of Tianjin Teda, which was then called Tianjin TEDA, and this marked the beginning of his Chinese Super League career. In the 16th round of matches, facing Hebei Huaxia Happiness, Xie Weijun came on as a substitute and scored a goal to help the team win; in the battle of survival with Dalian, he scored again to turn the tide of the game.In the final round of the 2021 season, in the relegation battle between Tianjin Tigers and Cangzhou Lions, Xie Weijun scored the winning goal in the last minute and was successful in the relegation.
This is the deep impression of Tianjin fans on Xie Weijun, who can always be seen at critical moments. This season, facing the Cangzhou Lions, Xie Weijun solo two dollars, but also assisted Barton scored, Tianjin Jinmen Tiger finally ushered in the first win of the season. He is known as "Xie Shao", just joined at the age of 21, clean-cut appearance, elegant style of play, so that he has become teammates and fans in the eyes of the "soccer boy".
This season, Xie Weijun is no longer a U23 player, playing in Tianjin for five years, he gradually became a "veteran player", with hard work to win a stable appearance. The outside world and the self on his higher demand, he consciously training, brave to take on. His wish for his first Chinese Super League season is that one day people will no longer call him "Xie Yuxin's son", but rather regard him as "Xie Weijun's father", although there is still a long way to go to realize his wish. Although the road to realize his wish is still long, but he is firmly towards the goal.
FOOTBALL: In the first phase, Jinmen Tigers won 4, drew 2, lost 4 and got 14 points, is this result satisfactory? How does this result compare to pre-season expectations?
Xie Weijun: I feel quite satisfied, of course, I personally think we can do better. The preparation before the season is very full, there may still be some details are not good, such as the last pass on the offensive end and grasp the opportunity. I believe if we can do better in these two aspects, we will achieve better results.
FOOTBALL: After the break, the team entered the second phase of preparations, what were the main efforts during this time?
Our focus in the second phase is to solve the problem of set-pieces, as we conceded more goals on set-pieces in the first phase. During this time we have strengthened our set-piece defense and attacking set-pieces in training, which we hope will be reflected in the second phase of the game.
Soccer: After returning to Tianjin, the coaching staff summarized the first phase of the game, what is Yu Genwei's satisfaction with the guidance? What requirements were put forward in the second phase?
Yu's satisfaction is that the players were able to play at the training level in the game, with a good spirit and state of mind, and a full display of fighting spirit and determination. In the second stage, I hope we can continue to maintain this momentum, and I hope the team is getting better and better, and slowly moving towards maturity.
Football：In this season, you have changed a lot of teammates around you, but from the series of games, the Tianjin team is getting better and better in terms of bonding, what has everyone done in the process?
The main reason for this is that all the players carried out the tactical intentions of the coaching staff well during the training period in preparation for the match, and this, coupled with the long hours of communication, enabled us to gel more quickly.
Soccer: In the first stage, Tianjin Jinmen Tiger had won three consecutive victories, and there was not much difference in the strength of the teams in Meizhou, so it was quite difficult to win consecutive victories, what was the situation of the team at that time?
It still feels like because we showed a strong desire to win, director Yu Genwei has been encouraging us, and during that time we were playing and in good shape on the defensive and offensive end of the field, that we took the three consecutive victories.
FOOTBALL: The first phase of the process has been up and down, for the Zim Tigers, the second phase can learn some lessons from the first phase?
Of course, we saw our strengths and weaknesses in the first phase and then strengthened and improved them in the preparation period.
Soccer: Compared to last season's hasty preparations, this season the team got a lot of time to prepare, including the quality of reinforcements has also been improved, as the team's "veteran", what do you expect from this year's team's performance?
Without realizing it, my fifth year in Tianjin has passed. We have a lot of good players joining us this year. For this year, I personally feel that on the basis of relegation, we have the ability to work towards a higher ranking.
Soccer: You've made 10 appearances for the Zim Tigers this season, with goals and assists, are you still satisfied with your form?
I really didn't expect it at first, but I always thought about doing well and giving it my all when I had the chance to play.
Soccer: The team was late in getting their first win of the season, and in the game against Cangzhou Lions, you made a pass and a shot to help Jinmen Tigers get their first win of the season, do you have a very deep memory of that game?
Since last year, the two directors on the coaching staff, Zhang Li and Zhang Chaosong, have often given me some extra practice on position, technique and shooting after training. Director Yu and Director Zheng (Zheng Bin) would also often chat with me and discuss what I should improve. I remember one time when I was on a high speed train, I happened to sit next to Director Yu and we watched a whole game of the Champions League semi-final video together, and he analyzed how a striker should run, how to receive and parry, etc. I am very thankful for this performance. I am very grateful to the whole coaching staff for helping me with this performance.
Soccer: last season the team's relegation key game, also against Cangzhou, also your goals to help the team relegation, key games can always see you come forward, what do you think the reason is?
I don't know why, maybe that's just the way I am (laughs), and I'm happy to step up and help the team when they're in trouble.
FOOTBALL: Was that three-game point-grabbing spree a watered-down thing for you and the team?
It feels right, and in summarizing, it's often said that as long as we bring out our own abilities, then we don't fear any opponents, and that's really the case.
FOOTBALL: It's known that you often add on after practice, what's your reason for doing that?
It's true that some people won't do extra training after normal training. But I, as someone who has been there, have really experienced it deeply, especially after experiencing and falling in love with extra training after getting the results I wanted. I myself still want to get better and hopefully perform better, so I will keep going.
FOOTBALL: You turned 24 at the end of last year and are no longer U23, have you changed anything about your requirements?
Of course it's improved, gradually entering the middle generation, no one looks at you as a small player, the mentality and ability to be more mature. To reach this point, you need to put in sweat and hard work every day, and if you are not a starter, you have to fight for the starter to compete for more game opportunities.
Soccer: I remember in your first Super League season, you said you hoped that in the future people would call your father "Xie Weijun's father" instead of always referring to you as "Xie Yuxin's son", how far do you think you are from that day?
In fact, I don't know if the outside world has changed in terms of name calling, I myself feel that the gap is still quite big, I think, I still have a lot of time to catch up, in the meantime still have to continue to work hard to improve themselves step by step.
FOOTBALL: The first phase of your performance was very good, the fans said "Thank God for the Weijun", what do you think of the fans this statement?
The first time I heard "Thank God" was from my father, who was playing for Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic. I didn't expect it to be used on me all of a sudden, but it's still a good feeling, and it's a way for the fans to express their enthusiasm.
FOOTBALL: What is the biggest challenge for you in the second phase of the tournament?
Xie Weijun: The biggest challenge for me is that I hope to score more goals, to help the team get more wins, to help the team finish the relegation task as early as possible, and then go for a better ranking.
Soccer: The first game of the second phase is to face the defending champion Shandong Taishan, what kind of preparation has been done before this game?
A few days before the game, we analyzed and arranged tactical training for our opponents, who are really strong, but we also hope to have a good result to start the second phase of the game, to continue our momentum and spirit in the first phase.
FOOTBALL: Strong opponents will come one by one after that, is it ready?
Let's approach it with a normal mindset, prepare for every game and bring out our own abilities and strengths in the game.
FOOTBALL: New foreign aid Merida arrived in the team during this preparation period and practiced with the group very early, what can his arrival bring to the whole system?
Through this time in training, I think he is an experienced and technically gifted player who can create more chances for us in the midfield.
Soccer: Jinmen Tigers this year is obviously faster than last year into the state, you in the process more and more mature and sophisticated, what kind of heights do you hope you can reach?
I hope to have consistent appearances and performances at the club, and then I hope to have the opportunity to put on the national team's uniform and stand on the international stage to fight for my country.
Soccer: You've been playing for Tianjin for a long time, and you've been with this team through a lot, what kind of existence is this team for you?
I have been in Tianjin for five years, here, from a newcomer to now also known as the veteran players, I and this team together have experienced a lot, there are difficulties and a lot of good experiences, we have come step by step. For me, Tianjin is like my home, plus this year I got married and got a license, my wife is also from Tianjin, so now the feeling of home is even stronger.
