WASHINGTON client Beijing October 26 electric

question: Dialogue | Tang Jiali: missed Olympic selection Jia Xiuquan respect, but also less money to go Liuyang Road

  Author Bian Liqun

  Scored a goal in the key Olympic preliminaries battle with Australia, made a penalty kick in the double-round play-off match with South Korea, plus a goal line rescue... On the road of the Chinese women's football team to the Tokyo Olympics, Tang Jiali's performance has so far Many fans were impressed.

  The Chinese women's football team finally got a thrilling ticket to the Tokyo Olympics, but Tang Jiali failed to make it to the Olympic arena.

  After losing the Olympic squad, Tang Jiali accelerated the process of studying abroad.

Although her income was much less than that of playing for a domestic team, she still felt that she had to "come out".

  On July 21, before the Tokyo Olympics first match between the Chinese women's football and the Brazilian women's football, the Premier League Tottenham women's football team announced that Tang Jiali had joined the team. This idea she had brewed since 2018 has officially become a reality.

  In London, Tang Jiali saw the "different sky" and further felt the strength of the motherland.

  After checking her first goal in the official game, Tang Jiali started a dialogue with a journalist from China and Singapore Sports, telling her story about her overseas life, losing the Olympic squad, or the bittersweet football story.

Tang Jiali joined the Premier League Tottenham women's football poster.

Image source: Tottenham Hotspur Football Club official Weibo

Getting connected with football

Sino-Singapore Sports: What was the opportunity to get in touch with football and embark on this path?

  Tang Jiali: In fact, it was quite a coincidence. In elementary school physical education, my enlightenment coach saw that I was running fast and asked me if I would play football.

  I was very skinny at that time, willing to play, like a little boy.

When they asked me, I said, "Of course it's good, and I can play, and then go to school." I think it's pretty good, so I want to try it, and then I like football more and more.

Zhongxin Sports: Did you hesitate to embark on the path of professional football?

  Tang Jiali: No hesitation, I really like the feeling of playing on the court. Many people look at you and then show some of their things, including winning and scoring with my teammates. I really like this. This kind of feeling, my family also supports me in this way.

Zhongxin Sports: Did you have an idol when you were a kid?

  Tang Jiali: Of course there are, such as Shui Dao (Shui Qingxia), Sun Wen, and Liu Ailing. These are more contacts.

When I was in elementary school, I knew Marta of the Brazilian women's football team and liked her very much.

I feel that I like players who have particularly good skills at the feet, especially those who can excel. Like in men's football, I like Messi the most.

Tang Jiali in the women's Olympic preliminaries and Australia match.

Image source: Osports All Sports Photo Agency

Fighting for the country is the happiest thing

Sino-Singapore Sports: During the National Day, you posted on social media that "It is the happiest thing in your life to play for your country and win glory for your country." You can see that you cherish the opportunity to play in the national team.

  Tang Jiali: I am very pursuing and persistent in playing for the national team. Before I took the career path in elementary and junior high school, I said that I must join the national team. I think joining the national team is my top dream.

China-Singapore Sports: You scored a crucial goal in the last Olympic preliminaries against Australia. This year, in the second round of the Olympic preliminaries between Suzhou and South Korea, you contributed a very critical goal line clearance. This allows everyone The impression is very deep, is it still fresh in your memory?

  Tang Jiali: As for myself, I really want to give the national team a certain amount of help, and then I am very happy to have the opportunity to contribute to the national team.

  I can still clearly feel the Olympic preliminaries at that time, and all the players are united to fight and fight.

This feeling has always been in my mind, and I will remember it from time to time.

Zhongxin Sports: In the game against Australia, you first scored a goal, and that goal was very important.

  Tang Jiali: Yes, I was lucky to score this goal. Although we did not win the game in the end, Australia is a relatively strong team, so we were not only talking about whether we won the game, but also against the Australian team. Compete on the same field to see if our Chinese football has improved or can beat them, mainly because of this idea.

Tang Jiali is in the game.

Image source: Osports All Sports Photo Agency

Sino-Singapore Sports: I played the Olympic preliminaries with the team, but ultimately failed to compete in the Tokyo Olympics. Is it a pity?

  Tang Jiali: There are indeed some regrets for me, but it has passed. I also need to deal with this matter with a calm attitude, because we can't make any changes.

I still hope that in the next career, I can grasp every opportunity and not leave any regrets.

Sino-Singapore Sports: How did you digest this incident at that time?

  Tang Jiali: At that time, Shuidao gave me a vacation. After returning home, my family didn't mention it too much. Later, I ate and played with my friends.

Sino-Singapore Sports: How long has it been digested?

  Tang Jiali: Actually, it didn't take long. I think it is acceptable to be a professional player. I can only respect the coach's choice.

As players, we can only do the best we can, and other things can only be arranged by others.

If he (the coach of the women's national team at the time Jia Xiuquan) did not choose me, then I really might not have met his requirements.

  This is his choice, and then I accept it.

It happened that I was also preparing for the next plan, using that time to prepare for my going abroad to play.

Tang Jiali (right) in the Olympic play-off match with the Korean women's football team.

Image source: Osports All Sports Photo Agency

Traveling abroad to see a different sky

Sino-Singapore Sports: How long did you plan to go abroad to play football?

  Tang Jiali: I was preparing at the end of last year, because I need to find the team and talk about some details with the team, including finding the right one for each other and achieving some things I want, so it still takes a long time.

Sino-Singapore Sports: For you, studying abroad may be a more difficult road. If you step out of the "comfort zone", you may also lose something?

How was the decision to study abroad considered?

  Tang Jiali: I thought about it for a long time before making this decision. I started to have the idea of ​​playing abroad in 2018.

As a professional player, in addition to considering the economic aspect, he also wants to have a further improvement on the competitive level.

  I am a more persistent person. I feel that I still have room for improvement. I really want to try it. I think I can gain a foothold abroad. So when I have the opportunity to come out, I might sacrifice something in front of me, but I think This is a very important step for me, so if I dare to think and do it, I walked out and saw a different sky.

  Looking at it now, this decision is quite correct.

And even when it is very difficult, such as failing to play the main force or not scoring a goal, I have no regrets.

Tang Jiali is in the national team game.

Image source: Osports All Sports Photo Agency

China-Singapore Sports: After studying abroad, will the treatment be lower or higher than that of playing in China?

  Tang Jiali:

In terms of basic salary, playing abroad is actually much lower.

However, the future may be broader. Recently, some endorsements have been found, but I don’t know if the negotiation will be finalized.

Sino-Singapore Sports: Before accepting our interview, I got the first goal of the official game after studying abroad. Seeing that you were particularly excited after scoring, did the pressure have been greatly released?

  Tang Jiali: Indeed, the pressure was released. I was very excited when I scored a goal. I have been looking forward to the first goal, but after scoring the goal, I was still a little too excited (laughs).

Sino-Singapore Sports: Some netizens said that you were so excited that you forgot to find an assisting teammate to celebrate (laughs).

  Tang Jiali: Actually, I was looking for her, but I couldn't tell where she was.

  After coming to the UK, this goal is indeed very important to me. It also represents a lot of tacit understanding between me and the coaches and teammates.

After scoring a goal, Tang Jiali posted on social media: "Nothing can help you through the dark times more than faith."

Zhongxin Sports: After I watched the goal, basically all the teammates gathered around to celebrate with you. I feel that the atmosphere in the team is very good?

  Tang Jiali: Yes, I think our team is really a team with a very good atmosphere. We get along well with our teammates and they take good care of me.

  Because I just went there, it was a big obstacle in terms of language.

During training, they would give me some help. For example, I might have a confused expression, they would take the initiative to talk about it and help me better understand some techniques and tactics.

China-Singapore Sports: After the game, you said that you dedicated your goals to the water guides and players of the Shanghai Women's Football Team, and thanked your leaders for their support. What kind of support did they give you in the process of planning your overseas study?

Will you often contact them after studying abroad?

What did you say?

  Tang Jiali: Shui Dao (Shui Qingxia) is my mentor, and the teammates in Shanghai are all my sisters, because we grew up together.

When I made the decision to study abroad, they gave me a lot of help and very support for my choice.

Especially in this year's National Games, the leaders of the Shanghai Football Association, the water guide, and the team members agreed that I would go to the UK to study abroad during this time period. They gave me the green light all the way, hoping that I could come to the UK to improve myself.

  After studying abroad, we have kept communicating. The water director often sends me messages and analyzes some of my situation so that I can find my problems more quickly, and then improve and adapt as soon as possible.

Tang Jiali scored a goal poster.

Image source: Tottenham Hotspur Football Club official Weibo

Sino-Singapore Sports: Now that you have officially embarked on a journey abroad for more than 2 months, how about living abroad?

How are you adapting?

  Tang Jiali: There is indeed a big difference between life here and domestic life. I think I can adapt to it. For example, the team’s skills and tactics or integration with the team is slowly getting on the right track. Recently My English listening has also improved.

  Except for training and competition, the spare time is arranged by myself.

At the beginning, I found it quite difficult in terms of language and culture.

  Because after I came here, I need to do everything myself, and I don't know many friends.

Fortunately, my brokerage team has given me a lot of help. The broker introduced many friends to me and built a "Tang Jiali London Mutual Aid Group" for me. Then these friends really actively helped, such as repairing water heaters and repairing water heaters. Oven, mobile phone card and the like.

And every game, whether at home or away, there are Chinese fans on the scene, and you can see the five-star red flag

. I feel that someone is always supporting me behind me. I don’t feel that I’m lonely outside, or that I’m fighting alone. I will feel a lot of power.

  Especially in foreign countries, this feeling is particularly precious, and I can really feel that the strength of the motherland is particularly strong.

  I didn’t get too many starting opportunities before, but the local Chinese fans have always supported and encouraged me. We will communicate after the game. They didn’t think what would happen if you played or didn’t play. They thought I was okay. I take it slowly, which makes me particularly touched.

  Including many Chinese friends here like football very much, their friends also like football, so they are very interested in me, take the initiative to ask me out for dinner or ask me if I need help.

Tang Jiali received letters from Chinese fans in the UK.

China-Singapore Sports: Women's football in the world is becoming more and more "male football". Playing in Europe, do you have a deeper understanding of the development trend of women's football and many things you can learn from?

  Tang Jiali: I really feel the rapid development of women’s football in the world. In fact, “male football” refers not only to the rhythm and style of play on the court, but also the operation of clubs, medical facilities, and all aspects of protection are very professional. For example, it will keep track of everyone's physical condition, and then arrange some training according to your condition, or arrange some psychological conversations.

In this environment, the player's development and their own abilities can be maximized.

  Another thing that makes me feel very deep is that

when team meetings are held here, they will encourage you to express your ideas, they will also naturally and directly put forward their own ideas, and the coach will listen to everyone’s ideas. , I like to discuss with everyone.

  For example, in the game where I scored, I started playing as a midfielder. That position was a bit uncomfortable. During the half-time break, the coach just told me something. Later, I told her whether my position was too reliable. Later, I want to mention it a little bit.

The coach felt the same way after listening, and then put me up. It was a very simple matter.

  And playing here really requires a lot of analysis and understanding skills, and you have to read the game.

When I first came here, I was very anxious on the court because I wanted to score goals and didn't calm my mind.

  Later, I discovered that more skills are needed. For example, running positions can’t be sprinting all the time, because the pace of the game here is very fast. In fact, it doesn’t mean that every ball has to be pushed forward, but it’s better to understand this side slowly. The competition and distribution of physical fitness.

Sino-Singapore Sports: I see a lot of spectators at the Premier League women's football match. For you, this is a different experience?

  Tang Jiali: There are still a lot of spectators in these games. Many of the players here are actually Tottenham male football fans. He may be very familiar with our women's football because he likes Tottenham.

  I often see a few very familiar faces. We don’t know each other, but they always come to our game. They really love football.

Tang Jiali often shares her overseas life on social media.

Hope more girls like football

China-Singapore Sports: At present, there is still much room for improvement in the development of women's football in China. After studying abroad, your horizons have been further broadened. What are your feelings and opinions on the sustainable development of women's football?

  Tang Jiali: The development of women's football is not just the development of professional team competitions. The training system is very important to ensure that the sport can have more cornerstones.

  I hope that there will be more girls who like football and are willing to engage in football. I also hope that there will be more resources to support us.

  Although I have not been abroad for a long time, only two months, some people in China have already told me that she also wants to play abroad, or someone asked me what advice my child would have if they want to play.

Many people gradually began to be interested in football, including playing overseas.

China-Singapore Sports: So you play a leading and benchmarking role in the Premier League.

  Tang Jiali: Indeed, I also hope that I can play the role of benchmarking, so that more girls like football.

China-Singapore Sports: There has always been no shortage of international exchanges in football. Whether at home or abroad, in terms of your own feelings, what role do you think football and sports play in the cultural exchanges between the East and the West?

  Tang Jiali: I think sports is a very important medium for international exchanges. Football, as the world's largest sport, has a particularly strong influence.

  Our Tottenham women’s football team has players from many different countries, such as Finland, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea.

  In fact, they are quite curious about Chinese players, and they often ask what the Chinese league is like and how life in China is, and they also ask some Chinese food such as hot pot, and some teammates say they want to learn some simple things. In Chinese, these are very good exchanges, and we can also deepen our understanding of each other.

China Singapore Sports: Finally, what are your expectations for the national team and studying abroad?

  Tang Jiali: I very much hope that I can represent the national team to participate in more competitions, to fight for medals and honor for the country. This is definitely my first wish.

  For studying abroad, I hope to make some contributions to Tottenham and help the team achieve better results. I also set a goal for this season before scoring 10 goals.

(over)