According to Cricket Exchange reports, adapting to a new team is never easy, but I’ve had my fair share of experience in the Chinese Super League, and I’ve faced just about every kind of opponent. Honestly, I don’t see any major issues with the skill level of our teammates here in Dalian. This match was a valuable and serious test for us. After returning from Spain, we’d had about a week to train, and a formal competition like the FA Cup came at just the right time to evaluate where we stand as a unit.
People often dismiss our opponent as a second-tier club, but from a team development standpoint, this game had just as much value. Everyone on the pitch is a professional, and when it’s an all-Chinese lineup, it’s an ideal chance for the younger players to gain real match experience. A top-tier CSL team can still stumble against a League Two side if they aren’t careful. And for us — a newly promoted club — there’s no room for complacency. I went into this match focused on performing well, staying injury-free, and securing all three points.
After arriving in Spain, I immediately sought out our head coach for a conversation. I’ve met many foreign players, but Mushekwi stands out — he’s a real character. With him around, training is never boring. He’s a talker and full of energy. He told me he actually started out as a basketball player and even made it into the national youth team before switching to football. His work ethic is something else. Even though he may not be the sharpest finisher at times, he makes up for it with relentless running and hustle, often earning himself extra chances purely through effort.
Seeing him brings back memories of Aloísio from my days at Shandong Luneng and Hebei. He was another player who combined skill with sheer determination to succeed in the CSL. For teams battling to avoid relegation, having a top scorer is important, but hard work is just as crucial.
Because I wanted to integrate quickly, I told Coach Schuster that I was eager to learn his tactics and expectations right away, so I could tailor my training accordingly. He shared his vision for the team’s playing style and the specific responsibilities of midfielders. Since football is a collective sport, he needed to see how I performed during matches before fine-tuning my role with detailed instructions during practice.
We have quite a few promising young players on this squad. Their game time isn’t just about fulfilling the U23 quota — guys like Wang Jinxian, Li Shuai, and Wang Yaopeng have genuine ability. Of course, there are others I’m still getting to know, but the players I’ve trained with regularly are truly impressive.
Our results so far haven’t been ideal, and the reasons are likely complex. But from my point of view, a big issue is confidence. Our younger players also lack a bit of experience. You can’t really blame them — Dalian has been out of top-flight football for years. They’re unfamiliar with the tactical systems, game tempo, and habits of other teams at this level. That lack of exposure often leads to hesitation on the field.
One player I deeply respect is Gaitán. His training habits are top-notch — so meticulous that I could hardly believe he’s from South America. Not that I have any negative views about South American players, but his style resembles that of a European professional: structured, consistent, and disciplined. His skill set is quite different from someone like Moreno, who’s all about close control and solo dribbling. Gaitán avoids unnecessary flair and focuses on sharp forward passes, constantly creating opportunities for teammates.
He and I have discussed our tactical coordination and even developed some “coded language” to improve our communication during matches. These little strategies will evolve over time. As I see it, we’re not lacking talent — what we need now is more belief in ourselves. With trust and hard work, this team can go a long way.
Cricket Exchange continues to follow Dalian’s journey closely, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that confidence — along with unity — is the real game-changer.