Sports are an interweaving of dreams and reality, as well as a realm of honor and frustration. In this pursuit of perfection, every athlete is eager to bring joy and glory to the team and fans through their own efforts and talents. However, the reality is often more brutal than ideal. This is exactly what happened to Guoan star Zhang Xizhe, who was criticized and questioned by fans for failing to bring his due contribution to the team, which eventually sparked a debate about "food is the original sin". The debate reflects the delicate balance of success and failure in professional sports, as well as the complex relationship between fans, clubs and athletes. This article will delve into the ins and outs of this event in an attempt to present readers with a comprehensive, objective perspective.
Zhang Xizhe's indissoluble bond with national security
Zhang Xizhe is a famous star in Chinese football, who has played for the national football team for many years, and scored the winning goal in the 2015 Asian Cup, winning the runner-up for the national football team. In 2016, he joined Beijing Guoan and became one of the team's core players. Over the years, with his outstanding skills and high morale, he has contributed a lot of wonderful performances to Guoan in the Chinese Super League and the AFC Champions League.
However, as he grew older, Zhang Xizhe's state gradually declined. In the 2023 season, his performance at Guoan has been significantly worse than before, and he has repeatedly failed to create scoring opportunities for the team at key moments. This has sparked discontent among fans, who believe that Zhang Xizhe is no longer up to the core task of Guoan, and has instead become a stumbling block to the team, hindering the development of young players. In a social media interaction, Zhang tried to explain his situation, hoping to gain the understanding and support of fans, but it backfired, provoking even greater discontent among fans.
The discord between the fans and the players
In this incident, it is not difficult to see the conflict between the fans and the players. As supporters of the team, fans expect the team to achieve excellent results and bring them joy and glory. As a player, Zhang Xizhe is undoubtedly eager to create miracles for the team through his own efforts and win the recognition of fans. However, the reality is often more brutal than ideal. Zhang's decline in form has had a direct impact on the team's performance, which has undoubtedly dampened fans' expectations and sparked their dissatisfaction.
In this case, Zhang Xizhe's apology is particularly puzzling. He tried to express his apologies to the fans, but in the eyes of the fans, this expression did not show sincerity and was instead seen as hypocritical and perfunctory. This view may be a bit too harsh, but it also reflects the high expectations and strict requirements of the fans. They want their players to perform at the level they deserve when it matters most, to bring victory to the team, not to be a drag.
Zhang Xizhe's "retirement" remarks added fuel to the fire, further intensifying the contradictions between fans and players. At one point, he said that if the fans were not satisfied with his performance, he might as well be the coach himself. This arrogant and unprofessional attitude is clearly not in line with the professional ethics expected of a professional footballer, and it is no wonder that it has sparked anger among fans. The controversy eventually fell into a vicious circle, and the two sides struggled to reach a consensus.
The deep-seated problem behind "Vegetables are Original Sin".
In addition to the superficial reasons for the conflict between the stars and the fans, the reason why this incident has attracted widespread attention also reflects some deep-seated problems in the field of professional sports. The phrase "food is the original sin" points to the delicate balance between success and failure in sports.
In professional sports, the performance of a player often determines the success or failure of a club, and it is also directly related to the mood of the fans. A great player can bring glory and joy to the club and the fans, while a player who is in poor form can become a stumbling block to the team and even cause strong dissatisfaction among the fans. This "hero-sinner" dichotomy is an integral part of athletic competition.
However, there are some problems with this overly extreme criterion. First of all, the career of a professional athlete is not all smooth sailing, and they also have to go through various ups and downs. Some players may not perform as well as they could in a certain period, but that doesn't mean they're completely worthless. On the contrary, they often rely on years of experience and accumulation to still bring key contributions to the team in key moments. Simply dividing them into "dishes" and "non-dishes" is obviously an oversimplification of the judgment.
Secondly, the performance of professional athletes is also affected by many factors, including age, injuries, tactical arrangements, etc. It would be unfair to place the blame on individual athletes. Clubs and coaching staff also have their own responsibilities in developing and managing players, and they should create a better environment for players to perform at the level they deserve.
In addition, overly harsh judging criteria can also affect the mental health of athletes. The intensity of training and matches, coupled with the intense pressure of facing fans, can easily lead to fatigue and frustration among players. If the players also face harsh criticism from the fans in this situation, it will undoubtedly be a big blow to their self-confidence and fighting spirit. This is not conducive to the long-term development of athletes, nor is it conducive to the health of the entire professional sports ecology.
Therefore, we need to look at the performance of professional athletes in a more rational and inclusive manner. We should recognize both their value and the challenges they face. Only through mutual understanding and tolerance can we create a more harmonious professional sports environment, where players, clubs and fans can grow together and share the joy and glory brought by sports.
epilogue
Although the Zhang Xizhe incident is only a small episode, it reflects some of the problems that are common in professional sports. We should look at these issues with a more rational and tolerant attitude, recognizing both the value of athletes and the challenges they face.
Clubs should take more responsibility
In this case, we cannot completely place the blame on Zhang Xizhe personally. As a professional club, the national team should also take more responsibility for managing and developing players.
First of all, clubs should pay close attention to the changes in the form of players and take timely measures to make adjustments. Zhang's decline in form did not happen overnight, and the Guoan team should have identified the problem early and responded accordingly, such as adjusting his playing time, improving the playing opportunities of young players, or considering bringing in new midfielders to supplement the squad. This will not only prevent the decline in the player's form from having too much impact on the team, but also benefit the overall development of the team.
Secondly, clubs should also strengthen communication with players to help them better adapt to the expectations of their fans. Zhang Xizhe's "retirement" remarks were obviously not thoughtful enough, revealing the problem of insufficient communication between the player and the club. Clubs should establish a sound communication mechanism, communicate with players on a regular basis, understand their thoughts and difficulties, and provide them with necessary psychological counseling and support. This will not only help the players better cope with the pressure of the fans, but also help the players to identify with the club.
Finally, clubs should also develop more scientific and rational player management measures. Relying too much on veterans and seeing them as irreplaceable "core" will undoubtedly hinder the overall development of the team. On the contrary, the club should pay attention to the overall quality of the players, scientifically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each player, reasonably adjust the playing time and role positioning of the players, and create growth opportunities for young players. Only in this way can the sustainable development of the team be truly realized.
In short, in this incident, the national security team, as a professional club, should take more responsibility. Only by forming a positive interaction between the club and the players can the potential of the players be maximized and bring continuous joy and glory to the fans.
"Dishes are original sin" requires more understanding
Although the phrase "food is the original sin" directly reflects some of the problems in professional sports, we also need to understand the deeper meaning more comprehensively.
First of all, we should recognize that the careers of professional athletes tend to be short and volatile. They face a variety of challenges, including age, injuries, psychological stress, and more. In this case, occasional dips in form are inevitable. Instead of being too harsh on them to stay at their peak, we should be understanding and supportive to help them overcome their difficulties and get back in shape.
Secondly, we should also note that the performance of a player does not depend only on individual effort, but also on the tactical arrangement of the team, the use of coaches and many other factors. Sometimes, even if a player performs well individually, it is difficult for him to perform at the level he should be due to poor tactical arrangements or improper use by the coach. In this case, it would be unfair to simply place the blame on the individual player.
Finally, we should also realize that a good team needs a variety of players to work together and not rely too much on a single "star" player. Even if a player once brought glory to the team, as he gets older and his strength declines, his status should be adjusted accordingly. We should understand this natural law and respect the contributions of the players, but also think about the continued development of the team.
In short, although the saying "food is the original sin" is straightforward, it also reflects some deep-seated contradictions and problems in professional sports. We need to look at these issues in a more rational and tolerant way, looking at the performance of the players and understanding the complexities behind them. Only in this way can we create a healthier and more harmonious professional sports environment, where athletes, clubs and fans can grow together and share the joy and glory brought by sports.