Yuan Mincheng: The days of crawling and rolling are precious assets in life, and I want to realize the dream of the national football at the age of 30

Reporter Lu Mi reports In the wave of professional football, some people go with the flow, while others can swim against the current, and Yuan Mincheng is the latter. From a fledgling U23 player, to many teams going through ups and downs, and now sitting firmly in the main force of Chengdu Rongcheng, a championship contender, Yuan Mincheng's football road is full of stories. This season, he not only performed well in defence, helping Rongcheng become the team with the fewest goals in the Chinese Super League, but also scored key goals in attack. In the past seven years, he has continued to grow and mature, let go of his former paranoia, and have a deeper understanding of himself and football.

As the World Preliminaries are approaching, Yuan Mincheng hopes that he can be seen and realize his long-held dream.

◆Football: You scored two goals in April and you have the feeling of a defender with a knife, how did you manage to stay in such good shape during a busy schedule?

Won Mincheng: I have been very well prepared since the beginning of winter training and have been preparing for the game. In fact, as a defender, in addition to doing my defensive work, I almost always score goals every season, except for the previous two seasons in Changchun without scoring, I feel that I still have some goal luck. And it is rare to score two goals in one sitting under the intensive schedule of last month.

◆In the battle for the top spot on May 2, Rongcheng defeated Shenhua 1-0, how did your defense keep a clean sheet against Shenhua?

We all know that the two foreign strikers on the other side are strong, like Mineiro with sharp breakthroughs and full of impact, and Andre as the fulcrum of the attack, the role is also extremely prominent. With that in mind, the three players at the back worked closely together to get closer to each other, shorten the distance between each other and do their best to protect the defence. At the same time, the midfielders also stepped up their efforts to actively press the opponent's midfield. The result of the game showed that as long as we put the tactics in place as required, the defensive results will be satisfactory.

◆In a three-centre-back system, where two wing-backs are required to be actively involved in attack, how do you balance the relationship between attack and defence?

Xu's style of play is basically full attack and defense, the central defender can also participate in the attack, and the striker must also participate in the defense. Teemo and I can move forward when we have space.

◆In the third round against Guoan, you were mentioned to the starter, did you feel surprised at the time?

Although I had made a lot of mental preparations, I still felt a little sudden when I knew that I was going to play as a starter. Not long after the start of that game, I conceded a controversial penalty that allowed them to score first, but I didn't let that sudden situation bother me in the following games. The experience before coming to Chengdu has brought my understanding of football and many other things to a higher level, not only the accumulation of experience, but also the transformation of my mentality towards maturity, so that I can face all the variables on the field with a more peaceful and firm attitude.

◆In the 4th round, Rongcheng defeated Taishan 3-0 away, you also scored a goal, after the game you said that this away away did not think about losing, why are you so confident?

I think I can face some things calmly, whether it's giving away points or scoring goals, and when the game is over, I have to look forward, if I cling too much to a certain moment, I can't do the things that follow.

◆You've been in the starting line-up since round three, how do you feel now? How do you feel about the competition in the team?

We have a lot of good players in the squad and no one is necessarily a regular or a substitute. Just like at the beginning, everyone didn't expect me to be in such a good state. The competitive atmosphere in the team is good now, which pushes me to be more engaged in training. Only if you stay in good form will you have a chance to play consistently. For me, this competitive environment is very rewarding and motivates me to keep improving.

◆What is the difference between playing as a defender in a strong team and a relegation team?

When I played for Chongqing, the team was in the middle of the table for most of the time, and my last year was in the championship group and finishing sixth. The first time I felt the pressure of relegation was in the last year of my time in Shenzhen. Later, he went to Changchun to play, and only last year did he have the pressure of relegation. Playing in a strong team, it's more about pressing out and attacking and asking yourself to play to the advantage of chasing back. Now that I'm playing for Chengdu, I have more opportunities to attack, my team-mates will help defend, and we're more like a team to do the defensive tasks. Playing in the relegation team, more of your energy will fall on the defensive link.

◆Football: The last time I interviewed you, you were the main centre-back in Cruyff Jr.'s Chongqing team, was that the period when you grew the most?

Yuan Mincheng: Coach Cruyff Jr. had great trust and appreciation for me at that time, and we often communicated with each other, which had a great impact on my growth. When he was in charge of Chongqing, we also used press-up tactics, and I benefited from the idea that he required the centre-backs to have the upper hand in one-on-one defence and to always keep an eye on the opposition forward position when attacking. In the past, when we were defending, we were more focused on the offensive end, but with his guidance, I learned how to organise the defense when the team was attacking, prepare in advance and echo my teammates. On the way to becoming a full-fledged defender, the expertise he taught me is still very useful to me.

◆When the tide of Jinyuan football is low, it is the age when you need the stage the most, and you have experienced a lot of disappointments during that time, first going south, and then going north...... How do you evaluate those days?

I should be lucky to have experienced the golden yuan football period since the U23s. In those years, I performed well in the Chongqing team, and before I went to the Shenzhen team, I received many team invitations, including many giant teams. At that time, I thought that the future of the Shenzhen team was very good, and Cruyff Jr. also went there to coach, and he has been graciously inviting me to join. After careful consideration, I think it is a good choice to start again with the Shenzhen team, after all, compared to the big teams, a relatively new team like Shenzhen can give me more opportunities to grow. In the first year of joining Shenzhen, he played well, from the competition system to the championship group. But then the team experienced unpaid wages, players left, and bad things kept happening. Coupled with the fact that there were no fans in the tournament system, I slowly felt physically and mentally exhausted.

Later, in the middle of 2023, I felt that it was difficult to calm down and play football well in Shenzhen, so I decided to change the environment and went to Changchun. It's close to home, so I thought I should be able to feel more comfortable and get back to the joy of playing football. In Changchun, Chen Yang slowly let me play the game, and later became the main force. As you can see, the content of Changchun Yatai's game during that period was actually good, and it was not at all afraid to play a strong team, but unfortunately it was often killed, and I felt that I was always missing.

When my contract expired at the end of last year, I left Changchun to see how much gas I had left in my tank, so I came to Chengdu.

◆What kind of professional mindset has your experience shaped over the years? Have you ever regretted some of your choices?

Looking back now, going to Shenzhen may not have been the best choice for me, but I don't regret it, after all, after experiencing the trough of unpaid wages, those messy things have become a kind of precipitation. Although it was uncomfortable at the time, it was difficult to understand many things. Later, when I went to Changchun, I thought that I was close to home, and after staying for a year, I encountered the turmoil of the club, which was like the continuation of the turmoil in Shenzhen, which seemed difficult, but it was actually an important nutrient for my growth. After leaving Chongqing, if I had chosen to join a strong club, the team's results and my personal resume might have been more impressive, but those days of hardship may be the more valuable wealth in my life, so that I will be more calm and calm in the face of my current and future career, after all, I have basically seen and experienced all kinds of situations along the way.

◆What keeps you rational in the face of adversity?

At that low point in my career, I often came home depressed. My mom asked me what was wrong, and when I told her, she told me to learn to "let go." At that time, I didn't quite understand what it meant to "let go", but later I understood that no matter what the environment was, I should practice every day or have to practice, don't be too myself, always drilling the horns of the bull can't change the external environment, many times it backfires, it is better to reconcile with myself.

◆Joining such a stable club as Chengdu Rongcheng this year, do you feel that you have come to a hard time?

Actually, I was approached by other clubs at the time, I met with one of the sporting directors, I also met with the manager of a team, and Chengdu was the last one to find me. After thinking about it in comparison, I feel that I am more familiar with the environment of Sichuan and Chongqing, and the platform of Chengdu is also very good, so I came here. Now I definitely don't have to worry about unpaid wages, and I'm happy to play football. The house I bought in Chongqing before was not sold, and it is estimated that I will settle in the Sichuan-Chongqing area in the future. I'm not young now, I cherish my career and try to do my best in every training session and every game.

◆Chengdu Rongcheng is currently the team that has conceded the fewest goals in the Chinese Super League, are you proud of that?

Of course I'm proud, I haven't been through this situation after all these years of playing as a defender, and I'm sure everyone in the team will feel that way. The data objectively reflects our strength and is a reward for our efforts.

◆Through all these years of experience, where do you feel that you are most mature in terms of technology?

The three central defenders that the Chengdu team has been playing before, and the team's tactical play has been set before I came, and the team is looking at whether I can integrate into the technical and tactical requirements. Fortunately, I was well prepared and was able to play a role here.

I used to be happy with a good tackle and a tackle, and I might have been more focused on individual performance, but now I know that only by successfully blocking the opponent's passing path so that the opponent's ball doesn't reach the feet of the target player at all is a more meaningful defense for the team. Where I have grown is the shift from focusing on the individual to focusing on the big picture.

◆Football: You often mention your mother in interviews, you remember a lot of what she said, does this family affection translate into your motivation on the field?

Yuan Mincheng: Family plays an extremely important role in my life. Whenever I encounter difficulties and fall into a low point, my family will always support me unreservedly and let me have no distractions, and my family has always been a strong source of motivation for my football career. I play football both to achieve my dreams and to give my family a better life.

◆On April 26 against Changchun, you scored a goal, and you said that you were going to give it to your deceased grandmother, was there more turmoil in your heart during that time?

Half a month before that goal, my grandmother passed away, and she and my grandfather were very important relatives to me. I've always wanted to find a chance to score a goal and give it to my grandmother.

◆It can be seen that you are a very emotional person, you have donated money to your alma mater before, and you have also donated money to the prevention and control work in your hometown during the epidemic, how do you view the social role of professional players?

My mom has always taught me to be grateful, and I can't get to where I am today without the help of many people along the way. I was able to make money in professional football, not because of how good I was, but because I was really blessed by a lot of people. After becoming a professional footballer, I felt it was my responsibility to help others. Before the epidemic, I donated money to Yanbian and Chongqing to fight the epidemic, because I felt that as a semi-public figure, I had to have a sense of social responsibility to care for and help more people.

◆You are very careful, but you have a lot of mental strength in the game, which seems to fit the temperament of the Chengdu team.

I've always had the motivation to admit defeat since I was a kid, and even if I lose a small game in training, I'll be depressed all day, and this personality has continued throughout my career. On the pitch, every ball is the attitude I should have as a defender. After coming to Chengdu, I found that there were many players in the team who did not admit defeat. Everybody has that quality, so naturally our style of play is tougher, more resilient and more the pitch.

◆How does the unbeaten run against the top five so far inspire you?

Our confidence level has certainly been greatly improved. When we play against the traditional giants, we may not have much in mind at first, but after the game, we realised that we have what it takes to beat the big teams. There is indeed a certain amount of chance in football matches, but in the final analysis, it is still necessary to rely on your own hard power to win.

◆At the top of the table, with a solid defence, what do you think the team needs to do next to keep that momentum going?

First of all, we must not underestimate the enemy. The teams that are in the middle and lower tiers will definitely put us in high regard now and will have a targeted tactical plan in place, so we don't have a lot of room to make mistakes.

◆You're 30 years old, and you're in your thirties, do you feel like you're at your ideal level at this age when players are at their most mature?

Now, it's even more important for me to keep a normal heart. Over the years of football, I have witnessed many people who have become famous with one goal, and I have also witnessed the short-lived loneliness of many players. Those players who have been praised by the media and fans may only struggle on the field of the first and second divisions in just one or two years, and some even bid farewell to the green field directly.

Professional football is like a marathon, and being in good shape all the time is the key. After going through so much, my mentality has also changed, and I am no longer swayed by temporary gains and losses, and I value long-term development and self-improvement.

This year I had an epiphany, and there was a big shift in my perception of myself. I don't have to prove to others what kind of person I am, because I know myself better than anyone else. I just need to focus on myself and not be swayed by the distractions of the outside world. I know what I look like, and it's enough to be myself.

Time flies, and the experience of U23 seems to be just yesterday, but in a blink of an eye, seven or eight years have passed. The most important thing for me at the moment is to play every game. On the stage of continental competitions, that is, in the AFC Champions League, there can be excellent performances. Of course, I also want to be selected for the next national team, which is my dream all along. If you can get your wish, it can be regarded as a satisfactory explanation for your football career.