On January 6, the flames of the 2021 Chinese Super League season died down, and Guangzhou's battle with veteran Shanghai Seaport was ultimately decided in defeat, regrettably reaping the glory of a third-place finish. However, for the financially struggling Guangzhou team, such a result is already a rare achievement.
The players embarked on the journey, which was itself full of difficulties. Before the start of the second phase of the season, Guangzhou almost couldn't set foot on the field, but in the end, they survived. Soccer Daily uncovered the inner world of the players, with one of them saying, "In our hearts, we have a strong belief - that is to make Guangzhou survive! Before the Championship Group match, Zhi gave us a pep talk, emphasizing that whether it's to prove ourselves or for something else, our goal is to give it our all and finish each stage of the game."
From macro to micro, they fought for the city, the fans, and even more for themselves. Even in the face of adversity, the Guangzhou team was united as one, and the commitment of Zhi and the coaching team, as well as their leadership at critical moments, was appreciated. One detail is touching: when the players trained spontaneously, the hotel staff and restaurant chefs had left, but the team staff purchased their own ingredients and cooked for the players. This spirit of overcoming difficulties and solidarity is undoubtedly an unforgettable experience in life for the young players.
As for the future, fans and players alike are still full of unknowns. However, the contracts of the main players have expired, and the renewal of Zheng Zhi, Liu Tingzai, Huang Bowen and others have become suspenseful. Soccer Daily revealed that other clubs have already thrown olive branches to the players when Guangzhou's team was in trouble. Despite the head of the Guangzhou Municipal Sports Bureau expressing his determination to maintain the prosperity of the two professional soccer clubs, the players are still looking forward to the completion of the share reform as soon as possible so that they can decide whether to stay or go based on the results. (DD)
