Sichuan Jiuniu has made great moves this season, in addition to the manager from Li Yi to former Barca assistant coach Lobella, it has also introduced 19 new signings in one go, which is the team with the largest reinforcement action in the Chinese League A this season. Among the new reinforcements of Sichuan Jiuniu, there is no shortage of players with rich experience in the Chinese Super League and The First Division, including Zou Zheng, Ma Xiaolei, Lu Ning, Russell and other people who are familiar to fans, but the most "big name" reinforcement should be the former international Zhao Xuri.
Zhao Xuri joined Sichuan Jiuniu, but also attracted the attention of Sichuan fans, after all, he became famous in Sichuan - although his career began in Dalian Saidron of the "Real German System" that year, zhao Xuri really "took off" in Sichuan Guancheng, in 2003 he and Feng Xiaoting, Yan Feng, Liu Yujian, Chen Dong and many other young talents of Dalian football followed Xu Hong to join Sichuan Guancheng. Zhao Xuri, who was only 18 years old at the time, sat firmly in the main position in his first season with Sichuan Guancheng and entered the national team with outstanding performances. Through his training in Sichuan Guancheng, Zhao Xuri was also recognized by Dalian Shide, and after returning to Dalian Shide in 2005, he followed the team to win the double championship of the Chinese Super League and the FA Cup.
In the 2012 season, Zhao Xuri joined the "Evergrande Dynasty" in the ascending period, and in the four seasons he played for Guangzhou Evergrande, Zhao Xuri won four Chinese Super League championships and two AFC Champions League titles. Last season, Zhao Xuri failed to help Dalian people succeed in relegation, and after the new coach Xie Hui joined Dalian, Zhao Xuri also chose to join Sichuan Jiuniu, who will fill the vacancy left by Zhang Jiaqi, the main back of Sichuan Jiuniu, after leaving the team. Many media and fans also use "Zhao Yi kicked back to the place where the dream began" to describe Zhao Xuri, who has become a veteran, once again entering the river.
From entering Sichuan for the first time at the age of 18 to re-entering Sichuan at the age of 37 in the twilight of his career, what kind of feelings did Zhao Xuri have? What are his goals for this year and Sichuan Jiuniu? With these questions in mind, the Red Star News reporter conducted an exclusive interview with Zhao Xuri.
"Chengdu is a city that is developing too fast"
Red Star News: How do you feel now when you left Sichuan Guancheng in 2005 and re-entered Sichuan after 17 years?
Zhao Xuri: Just very happy! Because I have played for Sichuan Guancheng for two seasons before, it is really happy to come back again after so many years, because I have feelings for Sichuan and Chengdu.
Red Star News: Although your career started in Dalian Saidron, more people know you in Sichuan, and joined Sichuan Guancheng in 2003, allowing you to participate in the top domestic league of the A League, which also made you famous. What is the significance of Sichuan football for you?
Zhao Xuri: I debuted in Dalian and joined Dalian Sedron in the First and B League in 2002. I still remember that I was selected for the national team after playing in Sichuan Guancheng, so sichuan was a more important experience in my career. Being able to play in the first division and be selected for the national team at that age was indeed a good starting point for me.
Red Star News: Remember what kind of mentality you were when you first entered Sichuan?
Zhao Xuri: I was still young at that time, less than 20 years old, and coming to a place so far away from home as a young player should be a feeling that was both strange and curious. Curious about the city, but also curious about your future career. Looking back now, the Sichuan experience is still more important to me. What is more impressive is that Sichuan Guancheng was training in Pujiang at that time, and it was still a little distance to Chengdu city, and it may take more than an hour to drive, so the two years of playing for Sichuan Guancheng were more spent in Pujiang.
Red Star News: After leaving Sichuan in 2005, what do you think about Sichuan the most? This time it has been some days, in addition to the usual training, what is the nostalgic move? Have you contacted your teammates in Sichuan Guancheng that year?
Zhao Xuri: In fact, after returning to Dalian, I was more worried about the Sichuan Guancheng team, when the team's performance may not be very good, facing relegation, and I have always been more concerned about their performance when I was in Dalian. Shortly after coming to Chengdu this time, most of the energy was still focused on the training of the team. To say that the impression of Chengdu is that the city has changed a lot and is developing too fast! Maybe the changes within the second ring are not too obvious, but the third ring is completely different from before. My feeling is that Chengdu is now a very good integration of old and new in urban planning! As for the teammates of that year, many people have stopped playing, so there is not much contact.
Zhao Xuri in the Sichuan Jiuniu and Shijiazhuang Kung Fu Warm-up Match
"Hope to help the team reach the desired goal through their own efforts"
Red Star News: Can you tell us how you came together with Sichuan Jiuniu this time?
Zhao Xuri: First of all, it is the approval of head coach Sergio Lobella, who consulted me about my situation and liked me more. On the other hand, the management of Sichuan Jiuniu Club has also been more active in promoting and speeding up the signing process. The whole process happened quickly and smoothly.
Red Star News: This year's changes in Sichuan Jiuniu are still relatively large, as far as your feelings about the time you joined the team, how to evaluate this team?
Zhao Xuri: This year's team lineup has changed a lot, and many new faces have joined in, including myself. The new team definitely needs some time to run in, the current atmosphere in the team is very positive, and after getting acquainted with each other and running in, I believe that everyone can see the progress and effectiveness of the team.
Red Star News: After joining Sichuan Jiuniu, you have participated in several warm-up matches, especially last week when the team played a warm-up match with Chongqing Liangjiang Athletic in Chongqing, resulting in a 0-0 draw. As far as this game is concerned, how big is the gap between Sichuan Jiuniu and the Chinese Super League team? Where is the main embodiment?
Zhao Xuri: There are still gaps, after all, the Chinese First Division and the Chinese Super League are not the same, such as the rhythm of the game, personal ability and other aspects, there are still some gaps. But we can also see that in the process of warming up with the Chinese Super League team, our team is also gradually improving.
Red Star News: Can you tell us about the goals of this year's team and your personal goals?
Zhao Xuri: The team still has the idea of going to a higher level this year! As for me personally, I still hope to help the team achieve its desired goals through my own efforts.
Zhao Xuri in the Sichuan Jiuniu and Shijiazhuang Kung Fu Warm-up Match
Red Star News: As we all know, Chinese football is in a difficult period now, and the overall environment is very bad. You'll turn 37 by the end of the year, and some players younger than you have chosen to retire in this environment. At the end of last season, after Dalian was relegated, did you consider retiring? What made you finally choose to continue your career?
Zhao Xuri: For me, at this stage of my career, when you realize that there are still people who recognize you and recognize your value in the field of football and the football field, it is my greatest encouragement and achievement. Therefore, I also hope to play my own abilities and strengths in the new team through active training and competition, and realize the value of the team and the individual.
Red Star News: After you left Sichuan, many Sichuan fans have always paid special attention to your performance, after entering Sichuan again, do you have anything to say to them?
Zhao Xuri: Thank you very much to the Sichuan fans, I have not forgotten me for so many years, and I have been paying attention to me! When I went out two days ago, someone recognized me and said, "Hey, Zhao Xuri, I used to like you when you played football in Sichuan." After all these years of recognition from the fans, I still have to thank them.
Red Star News reporter Jiang Shan
Image from Sichuan Jiuniu Club
Edit Bao Chengli
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