Soccer, the world's most loved sport, and professional leagues are undoubtedly an integral part of it. So what impact does a professional league have on the development of a country's soccer game?
According to Klinsmann, the importance of the league cannot be overstated. In Germany, the Bundesliga is a dream stage for every child. Whether you grow up in Munich, Stuttgart or Berlin, your father passes on the game of soccer to you, so that you naturally fall in love with a team and your dreams germinate.
For his part, Ma Mingyu pointed out that the league is the touchstone for the development of the national soccer game, and that a stable and good ecosystem is crucial in order to play a leading role. This is not only the key to the development of soccer, but also has a profound impact on the youth. The soccer culture mentioned by Klinsmann is also a part that cannot be ignored. Many domestic clubs have begun to focus on the cultivation of soccer culture, but obviously, we still have a long way to go.
Photo shows players from the Fifth Central Primary School in Cangshan District, Fuzhou City, and players from Fujian Xishan Campus (in blue) scrambling during a game on May 9, 2021 in Fuzhou City. Photo by Zhang Bin
On how German soccer fosters a constant flow of talent, Klinsmann said the environment is crucial. You are drawn to try the sport by leagues, friends, neighbors. If all the kids around you play soccer, you are easily driven. Table tennis is very popular in my country, so it's normal that you will play table tennis. I grew up in a soccer environment, so I like soccer.
Ma Mingyu said that since 2015, the Ministry of Education and other six departments have accelerated the development of youth school soccer, and the popularity of soccer in schools has been reached. However, elite training is not enough, and the number of excellent coaches needed for this segment is far from enough. This year, the implementation of the National Campus Football League will be a good change, through the popularization of campus soccer, and then further deepen to elite training, China's soccer level will be greatly improved in a few years.
The Chinese Super League is currently experiencing an existential crisis, and the national team is also in the doldrums. In the face of this phenomenon, Klinsmann believes that this is a learning curve, which many countries have experienced in the development of the sport of soccer: spending too much money on players and sparing no expense in the introduction of foreign aid. But then, as a whole, the results were not satisfactory.
There have been ups and downs in the development of soccer. For example, Major League Soccer, which has been around for 26 years now, made a lot of mistakes in the beginning, and some clubs closed down as a result, before developing step by step into what it is today. The English Premier League wasn't always the top international league either, they have come a long way; Ma Mingyu played in Serie A. In the early 1990s, it was the top international league, and great players such as Maradona and Gullit played there.
Soccer can only be played with multiple supports, including the national level, the league level, the facilities and the nurturing of the younger generation. One of the most important things is for the Chinese Super League to become stable and stay focused. 3 years ago, I was lucky enough to go to China and watch a very good Chinese Super League game, and I believe that they can find some kind of balance. I believe they can find some kind of balance, and by learning from each year, the Chinese Super League will unfold in the right direction.
Ma Mingyu said that when talking about "gold dollar soccer" in China, many responsibilities and problems are attributed to capital investment and investors, which is not entirely correct. We should expect the market to improve and more investors who love soccer to participate. Chinese soccer is on a path of exploration, do not be afraid to encounter problems. We must face up to the problems and seek changes to make the league better and better.
CNN: Klinsmann was in China in 2019, what was his impression? In what areas can Chinese and German soccer further develop cooperation?
Klinsmann said that every cooperation between the Bundesliga and the Chinese Super League is a great opportunity, especially at the youth level. The more they communicate with each other, the more ideas and solutions to problems there are. I'm glad the Bundesliga has an office in China, which will bring more communication opportunities between the two countries.
I was very impressed with my trip to China 3 years ago, I had a great time and saw a lot of kids playing soccer. Compared to that time, I believe Chinese soccer has changed rapidly. As the soccer infrastructure improves, the Chinese national team will get stronger. Although China was unlucky not to make it to the Qatar World Cup this time, it is necessary for the Chinese team to aim for the World Cup in four years' time. The condition for all of this is that more children go on to play soccer.
Ma Mingyu said that there are many Chinese players who used to play in Germany, and the most successful one is Yang Chen who plays for Eintracht Frankfurt. German soccer youth training is very solid, I sincerely hope that both sides can deeper in the youth to increase communication, which will be very helpful to Chinese soccer.
German soccer style pragmatic simplicity, teamwork prudent, deep historical precipitation, especially in the competition, in difficult circumstances, good at playing "against the wind ball". What Chinese soccer should learn most is the spiritual dimension of German soccer.
In the Bundesliga "national derby" on April 23, local time, Bayern Munich home 3-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund, early defense of the league title. The picture shows Bayern players celebrating their success.
CNN: There are several Chinese players currently playing in Europe. What is Klinsmann's advice about Chinese players staying abroad?
Klinsmann said that many people say that not scoring goals or not being a starter means failing to stay at home, but I don't think so. Staying abroad is a good thing, and there is no such thing as "failure". For players, staying abroad is a long learning process, not only in soccer, but also in personal growth. Living in a different culture and speaking a different language is a great challenge and brings a different experience. As long as you have the opportunity to stay abroad, you should try it.
