Reporter Lu Mi reports Chongqing Tonglianglong is about to kick off the prelude to the new season of the Chinese League, on the day of the departure ceremony, hundreds of fans witnessed the local core of Tonglianglong, Xiang Yuwang, Li Zhenquan, Liu Mingshi, Song Pan four people renewed their contracts for five years. The four players have grown up together since they were children, from competing in the National Games to teaming up to win the championship, and they have witnessed everything about each other along the way. This time, the five-year long-term contract with the club is not only a two-way trip between them and Tongliang Dragon Club, but also a portrayal of the new capitalist's insistence on localization and the creation of a healthy and sustainable development concept after entering the club, and it is also a down-to-earth and grounded attitude.

As a representative of Chongqing's local players, Xiang Yuwang has been selected for national teams at all levels since he was 14 years old, wore the captain's armband at the age of 19, and shouldered the heavy responsibility of rushing to the super at the age of 20. Renewing his contract with Chongqing Tonglianglong for 5 years not only means that he and Tonglianglong will open a new chapter together, but also means that he uses sweat and faith to interpret the determination of "one person, one team, one city" as a football belief. In the new season, Xiang Yu Wang is facing the challenge of multiple roles, and the belief of "fighting for Chongqing" has always been engraved in his chest. What he wants to do most is to go to a higher platform with Chongqing football, continue to ignite the flame of hope in the hearts of Shancheng fans, and go to the next journey with the fans around him with the longing for a higher stage.

◆Football: Actually, there is no shortage of Chinese Super League clubs interested in you during the transfer period, why did you choose to renew your contract for five years?

Xiang Yuwang: First of all, the club has expressed a lot of sincerity in the renewal of the contract, and the new owner is also very detailed about my future development and planning. I was contacted by other clubs, but I didn't want to leave, I would rather play for my hometown team. I think we must go up with the city of Chongqing and move towards a higher platform.

◆The club is also a new owner, a new team, how did you communicate in the contract renewal?

During the renewal process, we had a deep level of communication, not only about the two years, but also about the long-term planning for the future. I felt the sincerity of the new owner, the team is very professional and I believe that our team will get better and better. I also believe that the new owner is not here to do it after two or three years, they are thinking more about the long-term and stable development of Chongqing football.

◆The team has undergone a relatively large personnel adjustment this year, how is the team running in now?

Running-in takes time. With the new team-mates and the new coach's tactical system, we still need to use the last time to fully grind in, and I'm sure we'll have some surprises when the game starts.

◆Is head coach Salvador new to you? How does he position you for the new season?

It's not a stranger, I've played against him in the league before, and I feel that he has been very successful in coaching the Guangzhou team. In the second half of last season, I also talked to my teammates that the Guangzhou team played at a fast pace and the intensity of the confrontation was also very high. This style of play is more advanced, the more you have to go up, the more you need this high-intensity style of play, and if young players are exposed early, it will be of great help to grow.

◆This is a brand new Bronze Beam Dragon, as the captain, do you have any new feelings?

We're younger than last year, with players coming from all over the world and a variety of styles. This team must first dare to fight, no matter how strong or weak the opponent is, we will not admit defeat and strive to win. Secondly, we must follow through the tactics of the head coach and strive for victory with high-intensity confrontation. This is also the attitude that new investors convey to us.

◆This time, the contract renewal with you for five years is also Liu Mingshi, Li Zhenquan, Song Pan, the four of you grew up together, how does it feel to continue to play for the club together?

The new investor attaches great importance to the local players and the future development of the club, which I think is one of the long-term plans of the new investor. It's rare for us to play together as a kid and play for the same club and renew our contracts at the same time. After the renewal was completed, the four of us took a group photo, and we agreed to reproduce the photo in five or even ten years. When the time comes, it will be a very good memory to look back at what you used to be.

◆The team is a lot younger this year, what role do you want to play as an experienced player?

I'm a young player myself, but as a captain I have to take the lead. I will help the new players quickly integrate into the team and the city of Chongqing in training and life. In the past, Coach Lin always called me "Lao Xiang", in fact, I was the youngest of the 03 teammates, this nickname is contrary to the reality, I think he also hopes that I can shoulder the responsibility and grow and mature quickly in the team.

◆Chongqing Tonglianglong gives you a very high status, and also attaches great importance to your development, this renewal, is it your two-way rush?

The team has high expectations for me, and I have always wanted to work with the team to reach a higher level. While the whole team is doing better, I can keep scoring goals and growing. From Tonglianglong to the national team, it is my personal goal.

◆Football: When you were a child, did you ever think that one day you would become one of the symbols of football in the city?

Looking to Yu: I really haven't thought about it, I don't dare to think about it. At that time, I only played football for physical exercise, and I didn't pay much attention to professional football in Chongqing. When I went to the Olympic Sports Center as a caddie in junior high school, I saw Zheng Yourong score a direct free kick, and the whole audience was instantly boiling. Our Chongqing team, playing a strong team like Evergrande at home, can score points, and the spirit of not admitting defeat reflected in meeting a strong player is my initial understanding of Chongqing football.

◆Does Tonglianglong continue the temperament of Chongqing football?

Continued, no matter which platform we are on, we are always able to play our own tactical style and the spirit of Chongqing football in the face of different opponents. When it is strong, it is strong, and we are "not vain" to anyone who comes. As a native of Chongqing, I think that no matter where the players come to us, they must have this kind of temperament.

◆In the National Games that year, you almost won the championship for Chongqing, how did you plan for the future after losing the championship?

I had been preparing for the National Games until I was 18 years old, and I hadn't thought about it at the time, but after the National Games, I suddenly felt that a watershed had arrived. Luckily, we kept the whole team and started playing in the Champions League. I thought I wanted to play in the Chinese Super League at the age of 23 and then go to the national team and play for the national team.

◆Now Tonglianglong is the only seedling of Chongqing football, how do you see the role of the team in the revival of Chongqing football?

We are very grateful to the Chongqing Municipal Sports Bureau and Football Association, as well as our coaches, who were able to keep the team to play the championship after we played the National Games. If there was no such team at that time, perhaps the flame of Chongqing football would have been extinguished. For so long, I have always felt that we have a responsibility to bring Chongqing football back to the top league as soon as possible, so we have worked hard since the Champions League, but I think we have to work harder and strive for this goal.

◆Are there any fans who have followed you all the way from the Champions League to the present and impressed you more?

There is a fan named "Third Brother", he has been following us since the National Games, and then there was no professional team in Chongqing, and I also tried to understand the following of this road from his point of view. Maybe he would like to see such a group of people still fighting for Chongqing football, whether it is in amateur football or in the lower leagues, they all hope that we will carry the word "Chongqing" on our backs and play for the city. Whether it's the "third brother" or other fans, they don't care that we are just teenagers, they just want to see us play for Chongqing.

▲via Tongliang District Rong Media Center

◆You grew up in this hot land and want to bring something to the city with football? What do you want to bring to the people who have supported you along the way?

First of all, I want to be able to climb to a higher stage as soon as possible and bring glory to this city with football. At the same time, I also hope that everyone can feel the joy of football through our games. This can promote the development of football in Chongqing and allow more children to play football.

◆There are many outstanding captains in the history of Chongqing football, you are the youngest in history, do you feel that you have a heavy responsibility?

At first, I was also apprehensive when I was asked to be the captain. My apprehension stemmed from the fact that I wasn't mature enough and it was really stressful to wear the captain's armband at that time. I've talked to my coach and teammates about this, but the feedback I've gotten is all positive for me. Regardless of whether the responsibility and mission are heavy or not, I feel that I should take it on and revive Chongqing football. Along the way, I am very grateful to every coach and team-mate who has helped me, as well as the fans for their tolerance and understanding.

◆"Fight for Chongqing" is the core spirit of the team. As a native of Chongqing, how do you understand your connection to the city?

Chongqing is my hometown, where I grew up, and where I was made to be, and that connection is deeply ingrained. I'm proud to play for my hometown, like I'll be able to play for the national team one day.

◆Football: From the fledgling to the core today, how do you balance the dual roles of "young player" and "captain"?

Looking to the Aftermath: As a captain, lead by example; As a young player, I have shortcomings on the pitch, so what I can do is definitely work harder to improve myself. I'm a striker and a defence of the team, so when you're defending, you have to be aggressive and limit the opponent's shots, and when you're attacking, you have to try to score more goals for the team.

◆You once said that the captain "is responsible for Chongqing football", how do you understand this sentence?

There was no professional team in Chongqing before, and I always wanted to bring Chongqing back to a higher platform. Last year, we went eight games without a win, which was the longest slump in our history, and everyone's confidence suffered. I was uncomfortable at the time, but as a captain I had to bring positive emotions to my teammates, and I had to come out faster than everyone else. For me, it's about making a difference with more goals and getting people back in their confidence.

◆Last year, you were the top scorer in the Chinese league and scored your first hat-trick in your career. Compared to before, what breakthroughs do you think you have?

The hat-trick against Yunnan Yukun made me feel a lot more confident. When I faced Yukun in the Champions League, I missed a penalty and blamed myself at the time. Now against the same opponents, they scored a hat-trick, one of which was also a penalty. Standing on the penalty spot again, I just felt calm. Standing there, I already felt that the ball was fine. I think it's a psychological breakthrough.

◆Last season the team failed to make it over, and you say "sorry, but I tried my best". What lessons have you learned from this experience?

I think this experience is very valuable, and failure leads to more growth than success. It's a great deal for me and the whole team, and the next time we encounter this kind of adversity, the whole team will adjust better and get out of the slump faster.

◆What kind of mindset do you have to start the new season and the future with the Dragons?

I'm now confident that I'll be able to push myself to a higher stage with my coaches, my teammates and the fans. But at the same time, we must also focus on the present and take every step in a down-to-earth manner.

◆Five years is a long time, but how do you want to be remembered by the city's fans in the future?

I hope to score more goals for Chongqing, bring more glory to the city, bring happiness to the fans in every game, and drive more Chongqing people to pay attention to us and the football career, which is what I especially want to do.

◆Football: You were selected for the Under-23 training team, and you scored a goal in the warm-up game, but unfortunately failed to make the cut, what did this experience bring you?

Looking to the after: It's a pity that I didn't continue to be selected. When I first got selected, I was quite confident, but in the end, I was not selected. From another point of view, this is also a tempering of mentality. You can't be in a hurry, the more you rush, the more you can't get the results you want. That experience has given me a lot of mental improvement in the last year, and I was able to deal with various situations more calmly in the future.

◆You were selected for the U22 Asian Games team this year, what new experience did your first training camp bring you?

As soon as I went this time, I felt that the coaching staff was very demanding of us, constantly playing at a high level and being exposed to a high level of play. It's been a big help for me.

◆You have repeatedly expressed your longing for being selected for the national youth and even senior national teams. What contribution do you most hope to make to the Asian Games team?

Of course I hope I can stay in the team and play well for the national team. Whether it is the national youth team or the lucky selection of the senior national team in the future, I hope to dedicate all my strength to help the team go further in the competition. The management of our club has clear requirements for the players of the national brand, and they must spare no effort to fight for the country when they arrive at the national team.

◆This year, you are a player, captain, and rookie, what preparations have you made to face the challenges of each role?

This year has certainly been a year full of great challenges. When everyone is resting, I'm going to go to the training camp and come back to be seamless with the league. Actually, I already felt this rhythm in the second half of last year, and I have been constantly adjusting myself to do a good job in each role. This year I am confident that I can do better and hope to show my best self in different arenas.