Live broadcast on August 4th News in an exclusive interview with Oriental Sports Daily, Shanghai Harbor player Li Shuai said that the goal of the team was to compete for the championship, and he also talked about his first show of the national team in 2019.
About Shanghai derby
This is my first time to participate in the Shanghai derby. Before this competition, many fans and teammates around me were discussing it. Virtually, I was under a lot of pressure, which could be said to be both excited and nervous. I used to know that the Shanghai derby was very popular, but it was seen from mobile phones or TV. This time I participated as a player for the first time, which was really unforgettable.
Before every match, the coach will have a very accurate analysis and tell us the strengths and weaknesses of the other side. Facing Shenhua, the coach asked me to do a good job of defense on the side because there were a lot of passes on both sides of the opponent. On the opposite side, Xin Xin Li and bassogo are both powerful players and should keep a good focus.
In Zhou Zhongzhong’s FA Cup, we were just eliminated regretfully. The coach quickly told us that we forgot the losing match. We have a certain leading edge in the league now, but every game is not easy. Everyone in this derby has been absorbed from beginning to end, and finally we can win such a score, which was really unexpected before the game. But on the other hand, this is also the result that everyone has done a lot of details well.
About the performance of this season
The biggest feeling this year is self-confidence, because for a long time before, I felt that I almost had no confidence, especially in the middle and late period of Dalian, to the first half of this champion team. However, my friends and teammates around me, including the club leaders, all trusted me very much, which made me build up my confidence again. The head coach also gave me a lot of advice and told me what to do.
About Wu Lei
Brother Lei did communicate with me a lot at ordinary times. He would find opportunities to talk to me before or on the match. For example, when I want to pass it on, he will tell me what position the other party stands and where brother Lei runs. At present, the best degree of tacit understanding has not yet been reached, and the competition is still needed to run in, because the schedule is too intensive and recovery is more important in daily training, so only through the competition can we continue to Polish, I have to understand more myself.
About the process of joining the harbor
At that time, I didn’t play for almost half a year because I didn’t register. Later Sun Xiang found me. To be honest, he felt very excited and moved. The champion team could invite me. In those half a year, I felt that I had no confidence and questioned whether I was OK or not? Do you want to continue this road? But Sun Xiang was firm. He said I could, and I thought I would give it a try.
In terms of technical style and team strength, playing in the harbor is not the same as playing in Dalian before, because it pays more attention to the whole, which can be seen from our game data. There are many defensive counterattacks in Dalian, and there are also players with strong personal abilities here, but the cooperation with teammates will be smoother.
When I first came, Sun Xiang asked me if I would like to wear size 32. At first, I didn’t react to what it meant. Later, the team told me the meaning of this number. Sun Xiang said, no one has worn it since he retired. I think I will wear it. I think I really can’t play well when wearing this jersey……
Before I came to the harbor, I thought about the problem of competition and made plans for difficulties. I don’t think I have reached the state I want, including what my friends around me want to see, including the person I think of my father, I will definitely continue to work hard.
About winning the championship
The goal of the team is to compete for the championship. To tell the truth, I didn’t dare to think about it before. Maybe at that time, I thought that the earlier I was with the team, the better the ranking, and then I tried to help the team raise the ranking every year. Now if I have a chance to compete for the championship, I want to contribute to the team and realize it by accumulating step by step.
About the first show of the national team in 2019
To be able to play professional league matches, I want to thank Dalian for its platform. I have played football in Dalian and lived for a long time. I have unforgettable affection and friendship in Dalian, which I will never forget. From the past few years, everything came suddenly, a little hard to believe, but it was also very unforgettable. I remember I was very nervous when I first played for the national team. I didn’t fall asleep until early morning before the match. I think the national team is the dream of every professional player, and I am no exception. This dream will always exist.
(Luca)
