"Never give up", Yunnan Yukun and Han Zilong started all over again

Reporter Zuo Rui reports Yunnan Yukun away to Dalian InBev in the "Chinese Super League New Army Derby", Han Zilong scored the first Chinese Super League goal of his career at Barracuda Bay Stadium. A brilliant direct free-kick came in the 90th minute, too late for Yunnan Yukun and Han Zilong.

Although Hou Yongyong's goal in the 97th minute could not change the 2-3 endgame, two goals in stoppage time once again showed Yukun's indomitable will and also reduced the burden that the fiasco might bring. Before facing Shandong Taishan at home, Han Zilong told this newspaper at the Yuxi station that they will resolutely implement the technical and tactical arrangements of head coach Anderson, "I hope that this game can score three points and let the team get out of the temporary predicament." ”

As Yukun's most senior active player, Han Zilong himself has experienced a huge and long predicament. In his words, at the age of 24, he made his debut on the stage of the Chinese Super League on behalf of Changchun Yatai, and he also had beautiful fantasies, but due to the impact of injuries and changes in mentality, he "did not gain a foothold in the Chinese Super League".

After that, Yatai reserve team spent four seasons like a year, and there were eight months on loan to the second team, but in the most difficult days of his football career, he never gave up, and he still "is still very confident in himself". After returning on loan and expiring on his contract, he joined the Chinese League A club Zibo Keju as a free agent. As the new owner went from arrears of wages to disbandment, he has been floating in hardship and turmoil for many years, and ushered in a chance to "start again" in his sports career in Yuxi. ”

Not everyone has the opportunity and courage to start over, especially professional athletes whose youth is fleeting. After experiencing the ups and downs of the Chinese Super League, China B and China A, Han Zilong, who joined the amateur league, did not feel that this was a dimensionality reduction blow, but his "destined fate" with Yunnan Yukun. Following a team from the Champions League to the Chinese Super League, never giving up on each other, scoring goals every season – this unique and extraordinary experience in Chinese football makes him feel "very, very lucky".

Because of the team's defeat to Dalian, Han Zilong even felt "a little sad" for his belated first goal in the Chinese Super League, but for him personally, this goal is of great significance. This is the 31-year-old's 18th appearance in the Chinese Super League, and it is also his 36th goal for Yunnan Yukun in the fourth division - 6 goals in the Champions League finals, 19 goals in the Chinese Second Division, 10 goals in the Chinese Super League and 1 goal in the Chinese Super League.

"27" is the jersey number he chose, and it is also his unique way of remembering the day of his grandfather's death. He dedicated the first goal of the Chinese Super League to his deceased relatives, and also fulfilled the wish of a striker for many years. "This is what my grandfather wants to see the most," he said, "and I believe that he has a spirit in heaven, and he will be proud of me." ”

Because of the longest time with the company and the largest number of goals, every time the home team is passive or deadlocked this season, the stands of the Yuxi Plateau Sports Center always repeatedly shout a name: "Han Zilong!" Han Zilong! "Every time, he was moved and motivated. When the team is in trouble, whenever the manager sends him on the pitch, his only thought is to create as many points as possible and score goals in order to "help the team and give back to the fans".

Faced with the dilemma of being ranked 13th with nine points in the first ten rounds and not winning in five consecutive rounds, he said calmly: "Throughout the season, every team will have different degrees of difficulties, and we have some small troubles now, but I believe that we are capable of facing even the biggest difficulties, and I also believe that we will get out of the situation soon." ”

The game against Shandong Taishan was the last game in which head coach Anderson was punished with a "three-time ban from the court". Han Zilong believes that this matter has no other impact on the team except for "the first time to guide and transmit information at the game site". He said that before the last two rounds, Anderson would make individual arrangements for each member of the team, and would also keep in touch with the coaches and staff on the scene during the game, "and then feedback to the players on the field as soon as possible."

Taking the away game against Dalian InBev as an example, Anderson made arrangements for Han Zilong's position, responsibilities and timing before the game - including letting him take set-pieces and direct free kicks at the edge of the penalty area. Although the exact person will vary depending on the area where the set-piece is located, this time he knew he should step up.

After opening the Super League goal account for the free kick, Han Zilong hopes that his condition and foot feeling will get better and better, and on the basis of creating more goals for the team, he can also complete more goals. He is well aware of what the fans expect from him, so he has not dared to relax, has been doing reasonable training, and doing what needs to be done in each time period. He always believed that he "could do more for the team and the fans", as he did back then.

He admitted that when he returned to the Chinese Super League after seven years, it was difficult for him to adapt to the long interval, but through the first few rounds of the league running-in and actual combat, the strangeness of the Chinese Super League no longer exists. In the 6th round of the league against Qingdao Manatee 1-0 at home, in the 86th minute, he sent an accurate pass on the left side to help Xu Hongjie complete the stunner. Helping a team win is the happiest thing, it doesn't matter if you score a goal or not.

In the nine rounds before going to Dalian, he made a total of 8 appearances, 4 starts and 4 substitutes, and because he missed the opportunity in front of goal, he heard sighs and even boos from the stands more than once. He believes that this situation is normal, "When you are in a good state, there will be people who like you and support you; When you're in a bad state, someone will question you. That's part of football and I can only respond with a harder performance. ”

When talking about the two foreign teammates who are closest to him and have the most attention from fans, Han Zilong said frankly: "Oscar and Enrique are two different types of strikers, they have distinct characteristics, and their level is much higher than mine. So I'm going to try to match them up front and help them score. He hopes that through the efforts of the whole team, these two foreign players can be fulfilled in order to achieve the team's goal this year, "Yes, our goal is relegation!" ”