U23 Five Players Return! Zhejiang's New Coach: They Show Strong Competitiveness, But No Privileges Will Be Given

Written by Zuo Rui Over the past two weeks, Zhejiang FC's new head coach Ross Aloisi has been quite busy. The Australian, leading the team through winter training in Foshan, Guangdong, has been assessing players' conditions while also staying up late to follow the U23 national team’s matches in Saudi Arabia. Five players from Zhejiang FC are part of that squad. Ross needs to thoroughly understand their status to tailor specific recovery and training plans accordingly.

Among the five Zhejiang FC players participating in this U23 Asian Cup, Wang Yudong started 5 matches and came off the bench once, totaling 481 minutes and scoring one goal; Liu Haofan, who played despite injury, appeared once as a substitute and twice as a starter in the last three games, totaling 184 minutes, scored the first penalty as captain in the quarterfinal shootout, but conceded a penalty due to a handball in the final; Bao Shengxin started once and came on as a substitute three times, playing 153 minutes with one assist in the semifinal; Zhang Aihui came off the bench twice in the group stage, totaling 54 minutes; goalkeeper Huo Shenping did not play due to Li Hao's outstanding performance.

Although Ross has not met these five players since taking over Zhejiang, Liu Haofan and Wang Yudong left a deep impression on him last season when he coached at Shanghai Port. “Liu Haofan is a very talented technical center-back, intelligent and capable with excellent ball distribution skills. His potential was evident from his performance last season, and we are confident in helping him improve further.” He sees Wang Yudong as “a player with special talent,” especially impressive at the start of last season. Regarding Zhang Aihui, Ross admits he knows less about him but from what he has observed, he is also “very gifted.”

Regarding this special group and valuable resource, Ross said, “The key is that we all recognize their qualities, the club supports their growth, and their improvements enhance the team's strength. This is important both for the players individually and for the team. After they return, I want to understand each of them thoroughly and quickly.”

During winter training in Foshan, Ross watched his players’ performances in international competitions via TV broadcasts. “I think they performed well. The U23 national team’s tactics emphasize collective defense, and as the tournament progressed, the team played some exciting matches and the players gradually built confidence,” he said. “All Zhejiang players who took the field showed strong competitiveness.”

Regarding players in different positions, he finds it hard to say any one player outshone the others. “Football is a team sport, but these players all performed very well. More importantly, the team gained more confidence during the tournament, which is significant for Chinese football. People are starting to believe that the national team is improving and that many talented young players are emerging.”

Some might think Wang Yudong’s record of 15 shots in 6 games with only one goal, and his defensive mistake in the final leading to the second conceded goal, fell short of expectations. But Ross believes that in this hopeful and determined U23 national team, “Wang Yudong was not only a serious threat upfront but also contributed a lot defensively.”

Ross noticed Bao Shengxin’s semifinal assist to Peng Xiao that broke the deadlock and his efforts in the final to initiate attacks through long passes and shots from distance. Even for goalkeeper Huo Shenping, who didn’t play, the coach has his considerations—due to the unique nature of the goalkeeper position, Huo also faces competition and challenges upon returning.

“Li Hao deservedly was one of the best players of the tournament, so Huo Shenping didn’t get playing time,” he said. Every coach wants to pick the best players, but playing time depends on performance in daily training. “The coaching staff will do everything to help all players, including Huo Shenping, improve. Everyone has a chance, but whether they play depends on themselves.”

Although transfers are still underway and the team’s lineup is not yet complete, Zhejiang fans are eager to see what style their team will adopt in the upcoming Chinese Super League season. “From the start, we want to implement a highly aggressive tactical style, emphasizing tempo and speed both with and without the ball,” he said. However, this pursuit requires training to realize. “Currently, our training is still in the early stages, and everyone needs to quickly familiarize themselves with our football philosophy and tactical system.”

Ross already has a clear understanding of the abilities and adaptability of players who have trained with the team since the start of winter training, including new foreign signing Park Jin-seop and new domestic recruit Fang Hao. He also believes the young players, especially the U23 Zhejiang contingent, will play a crucial role in the new tactical system. “If these five players quickly grasp and adapt to the tactical demands in their positions, it will be beneficial for the team. We will also help everyone integrate into the squad promptly.” Additionally, he hopes all players “make progress in mindset and abilities.”

In this Zhejiang team, which is optimizing existing resources and restructuring with new domestic and foreign signings, national team players will not have any playing privileges. Ross emphasizes that only those who “consistently perform well in training, understand the tactical system, and excel in matches” will earn more playing time.

Zhejiang’s goal to break into the top group this season is challenging. Newly appointed Ross must both lead the team to better results and ensure young players continue to develop through training and matches. “It all starts from training. We design targeted training sessions based on our football style and tactical requirements, including both team and individual needs, and we arrange extra training after regular sessions.”

He said players need to improve their tactical and technical skills on the field, “and also strengthen their physical fitness and strength, as these are the foundation for implementing tactics.” This likely means the second phase of training, soon to begin in Dubai, will be tough for all players but also a valuable opportunity to advance further.

From the first group stage match against Iraq at the U23 Asian Cup, Zhejiang’s coaching staff closely followed the live broadcast. Their goal was to better understand the characteristics and condition of Zhejiang players selected for the U23 national team, so they could prepare targeted training plans after their return. “They need to get physically and mentally ready quickly and understand our tactical demands,” Ross said. Reintegration after a major tournament takes time, “but luckily we are still in preseason training, so we have enough time to help them adjust.”

For Ross, having Wang Yudong, Liu Haofan, Zhang Aihui, Bao Shengxin, and Huo Shenping from the U23 national team is a fortunate situation. The talent and malleability of these young players provide a solid foundation for the new tactics he plans to implement. However, the absence of these five players leaves the team incomplete and brings some challenges to Ross.

By the time the U23 Asian Cup concluded, Zhejiang’s winter training in Foshan had lasted nearly 20 days. Besides the five U23 players taken by Antonio, captain Cheng Jin was called up to the national team by Shao Jiayi. Among foreign players, only Mitrits, who is under contract, Lucas, who renewed, and new signing Park Jin-seop are present. Key signings for the striker and attacking midfield positions are still pending. Combined with earlier departures, Zhejiang’s winter training saw significant personnel changes.

To ensure training runs smoothly, the coaching team called up over ten young players from the youth ranks to join the first team’s training. “We assessed many young players promoted from the academy, and they all have good potential,” Ross understands that core players representing the nation is an honor for Zhejiang FC, and he has his own solutions for the difficulties caused by squad reduction.

Thanks to Zhejiang FC’s solid youth development foundation, these temporarily promoted youth players also brought Ross some pleasant surprises. “Statistically, it’s not easy to discover four, five, or even six outstanding young players every season.” Of course, as the six national team regulars return and the club’s foreign signings “will soon be finalized,” most of these newcomers will leave Foshan and return to the main base in Hangzhou.

Zhejiang will fly from Guangzhou to Dubai on the 28th to continue the second phase of winter training. It is understood that before the U23 Asian Cup final, the club sent staff to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to encourage players to embody Zhejiang’s spirit in representing the country and to arrange their post-final itinerary — no need to return home, they will join the team directly in Dubai from the final location.

In an interview with this newspaper, Ross said he has communicated with the five U23 national team players. “China’s U23 reaching the final made history for Chinese football; it’s a hard-earned and remarkable achievement.” The coaching staff will give these five players about a week off “to relax physically and mentally, as the tournament was very demanding on their stamina and spirits.”

Having represented Australia at the World Youth Championship and the Olympics as a player, Ross understands that achieving a breakthrough in an international tournament but suffering a heavy loss in the final brings mixed emotions—excitement and disappointment are inevitable. “When they return, our coaching staff will talk with them, focusing on preparing for the Chinese Super League and how they can continue improving at the club.”