Beijing Guoan coach Schmidt recently talked about his feelings about coaching in China and speculation about his future in an interview with the media.
Before Schmidt led Beijing Guoan to lift the 2018 Chinese Football Association Cup trophy, Guoan had not tasted the championship for a long time. And the team is currently at the top of the league (Editor's Note: In an interview, it is currently in second place) and is attacking the league championship. The German coach's Chinese coaching experience has undoubtedly been a success. The club hopes to extend manager Schmidt's contract, which expires at the end of the year, and the two sides will discuss the contract in August. However, there are also some German clubs that are interested in Schmidt.
Schmidt was a family-oriented man. In interviews, he repeatedly stressed that work in China "places high demands on family life." Schmidt is currently living alone in a hotel in Sanlitun, Beijing, very close to the Workers' Stadium, where the club is located. His wife and two children live in Germany. "When you're far from home, it's a completely different life."
He recalled that when he first arrived in Beijing two years ago, the sky was completely hazy, and he thought of the smog, but it was actually a sandstorm. "The next day everything was clear again." At that time he wasn't sure what awaited him. "But now I'm glad I took that step. I was pleasantly surprised by China in every way. ”
When it comes to training and competitions in China, he said that communication is difficult and there is always a need to work with translators. But it also has an advantage: "I can think again about what I'm going to say when he translates." You can also get a lot with gestures and facial expressions, and you should make the most of this. ”
"Bad air, very hot summers, very distant away games and climatic differences in different parts of China are also troublesome for the players. It's already an extreme load. Schmidt also said that the air in Beijing is really poor: "As bad as usually described, it is shocking." ”
When asked about the possibility of becoming the head coach of the Chinese national team, Schmidt replied with some evasion that he was not sure how long he would remain a coach. He said he was always focused on what he was doing now without worrying about what would happen next, and once again mentioned the sacrifice of the family.
During his time in China, he had an invitation from Germany, but he wanted to complete his mission in Beijing. Schmidt says he has put a lot of energy and passion into the team and is going well so far. "That's why I don't want to leave the team in the middle of the season. If I end my job at Beijing Guoan at some point, I'll take a break, which has been in a state of tension for the past few years. "If there's an invitation from the team, Schmidt said, 'If I feel good at that time, I'll take that job.'"
（friends）