Yuri Pellegrini: “This is my China”

Some say that in life you need luck, courage and the desire to constantly discuss yourself and your actions. Someone who probably lives by this principle is Yuri Pellegrini. The former professional footballer from Laag seized the opportunity in December to work as assistant coach of the Tianjing Songjiang Football Club in the Chinese second division.

SportNews: Mr. Pellegrini, your championship will start shortly. How are you passing the time until you can finally start the season? We are currently completing a long period of preparation, interrupted only by the Chinese New Year celebrations. It's too early to make any predictions, but I'm very confident that we'll get off to a good start.

China and football: What are your impressions?

In a sense, the Chinese surprise all the time. They have a lot of potential, especially when it comes to infrastructure such as stadiums and training grounds. However, the technical level of Chinese football cannot be compared with European football. There are historical but also social reasons for this. Football has only become widespread in recent years. There are no football schools like ours and that is why it is difficult to find well-trained young talent like in our European youth departments. However, the Chinese have a lot of desire to learn from Europe - but to be honest, sometimes they overdo it.

How big are the differences between Europe and China in general?

Very big, infinitely big. The first hurdle is the language. However, I never imagined that China would be so well developed, with very efficient services, very large cities and a desire to display wealth and prosperity. The Chinese live their everyday lives with an incomparable routine that is sometimes a little confusing. But they are always friendly and dignified.

Is the “Chinese dream” a social fantasy, a misconception, or is anything really changing in the Middle Kingdom? The potential is undoubtedly there, but as is often the case, most is for the few and the little is for the many. But China is no exception to other countries.

What does a typical day look like for you? My day usually starts at 8.30:XNUMX a.m. Then I'm picked up at home and off to the training ground. After training we have lunch with the team before taking a break for the afternoon session. After showering, I'm taken back home, where I keep in touch with my family and friends at home via the PC.

Football is always associated with results. Are you already feeling a little pressure? You can feel a little bit of pressure within the club, especially because a lot is expected of us Italians. But more than pressure, I would describe it as an incentive to do well. People in the city are naturally curious about the fruits of our labor and how the club will perform over the course of the season. But all the prerequisites are there to do it well.

How do you cope with Chinese cuisine? Chinese cuisine is very diverse and there is something for every taste. That's why there are no problems for me. Otherwise, I'm trying to stay in shape and I can't wait to go to the mountains again with my friends.

Alfredo Sebastiani also moved abroad, namely to England where he joined Watford. Do you still hear it often? We've heard each other a few times in the past few months, but not anymore. I think both of our experiences are very different. In any case, I hope for him that he can do a good job and that he can show his skills as a coach, but also his human qualities.

But you're still following Italian football... Yes, of course, I follow everything, Serie A, FC Südtirol, the Oberliga. I also hear from my young players that I looked after and the coaches I was able to work with. I keep in touch with a lot of people who are active in football.

Is there anything that particularly impressed you? Yes, the climate of the games. This is similar to Italy. All the work you did in training is concentrated there. And of course the tension before the game is getting bigger and bigger. Everything you did in training, you ultimately do for the 90 minutes of the match. As a tourist, what impressed me most was a trip to the Great Wall of China.

What do you wish for yourself?

That I can repay the trust that was placed in me. And of course that I can win something.

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Yuri Pellegrini: “This is my China”

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