At the press conference before Chengdu Rongcheng's F.A.C. Cup match against Nantong Zhiyun on July 15, head coach Xu Zhengyuan and player representative Baitijiang were present and exchanged in-depth information on the team's preparations for the tournament, its position in the Cup and whether or not to carry out rotations.
Xu Zhengyuan first emphasized the importance of the AFC Cup to the team. He said: "For our team, the AFC Cup is a very crucial tournament, which is not only a stage to test our strength and tactical system, but also an important opportunity to enhance the team's cohesion and fighting spirit. Therefore, we will face the opponent of this game with an extremely cautious attitude, prepare for the game seriously, and strive to provide a wonderful game for the fans at home."
When talking about the positioning of the Cup, Seo Jung-won showed his deep insight and global view as a head coach. He pointed out, "Usually, the Cup is a highly variable tournament globally because it requires teams to show their best form in a short period of time. At the moment, our league fixtures are very tight, and there is a certain amount of fatigue and injury risk among the players in general. This makes me worry about both the physical condition of the players and their possible mistakes in the game. Therefore, I decided to make some rotation in this game to give those players who usually have fewer chances to play in the league more chances to show themselves. At the same time, I also believe that through such a rotation, our team will be able to make better adjustments in the F.A.C. Cup and lay a solid foundation for the subsequent league matches."
For the specific implementation of the rotation, Xu Zhengyuan also gave a clear explanation. He said: "Recently, our league schedule is really very close, and most of the away games, which is a great test for the players' physical strength and psychology. In order to avoid injuries and decline in form due to excessive fatigue, the coaching staff decided to rotate the players in this game. Of course, this does not mean that we will give up our desire for victory and respect for our opponents. On the contrary, we will cherish this opportunity to play at home and do our best to win. At the same time, I also believe that our players will maintain their good condition and bring a wonderful game to our fans through teamwork and hard work."
As a representative of the players, Baitijiang also expressed his views at the conference. He said, "Although the time interval from the last league game is relatively short, the whole team has been fully prepared. We know the importance of this game and understand our responsibility and mission. As a player, all I need to do now is to do my job well and bring positive emotions and encouragement to the coaching staff and teammates. I believe that with everyone's joint efforts, we will be able to play our best in tomorrow's game and give our fans a great game."
