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AFC Asian Cup: defender Chan hopes Qatar showing leads to Hong Kong exodus of city’s best
- Kitchee player eyes move abroad after being involved in ‘proper games’ in Middle East
- Jorn Andersen’s team preparing for must-win Group C game against Palestine in Doha
Shinichi Chan hopes Hong Kong’s exploits in the Asian Cup will lead to an exodus of the city’s best players to clubs overseas.
The Kitchee defender said the “proper games” against the United Arab Emirates and Iran were completely different to the weekly contests in the Hong Kong Premier League.
Only five of the 26-man squad in Qatar earn their living outside the city, and while Jorn Andersen’s side lost both matches, Hong Kong largely competed as equals. A win over Palestine on Tuesday could get them into the last 16.
“Our players going overseas will help the Hong Kong team, and I hope more get a chance after this tournament” Chan said. “You can see in all the matches here, players from foreign clubs are at the top level.
“I want to leave, I see everything here, the facilities and the quality of the players, and it makes me feel even stronger about wanting to go outside Hong Kong.
“It has felt like playing proper games. The tempo, the contact, the physical level, are all completely different from Hong Kong. Mentally, physically and tactically, it is very demanding. We have shown we can manage physically, and we are competing with the greatest players in Asia.”
Chan, who has whiled away his spare time watching Korean series My Name on Netflix, said Hong Kong’s opening two performances “gave me and the team big confidence, and showed we are getting closer to the best teams in Asia”.
To overcome Palestine, head coach Jorn Andersen’s side might require a better deal from officials, after being stung by controversial decisions against both UAE and Iran.
Chan conceded a soft penalty in the first match, when the 21-year-old reckoned his “defensive intensity was not at Asian Cup level”.
“We can only play football, the refereeing group looks at all the decisions,” he said. “We just want a fair game, and to compete on a level playing field. The effort and mentality of everyone in the squad is amazing, we are all focused and have the same target.
“If we correct some small details, we believe we can be the happy side after 90 minutes against Palestine.”
Shinichi Chan hopes Hong Kong’s exploits in the Asian Cup will lead to an exodus of the city’s best players to clubs overseas.
The Kitchee defender said the “proper games” against the United Arab Emirates and Iran were completely different to the weekly contests in the Hong Kong Premier League.
Only five of the 26-man squad in Qatar earn their living outside the city, and while Jorn Andersen’s side lost both matches, Hong Kong largely competed as equals. A win over Palestine on Tuesday could get them into the last 16.
“Our players going overseas will help the Hong Kong team, and I hope more get a chance after this tournament” Chan said. “You can see in all the matches here, players from foreign clubs are at the top level.
“I want to leave, I see everything here, the facilities and the quality of the players, and it makes me feel even stronger about wanting to go outside Hong Kong.
“It has felt like playing proper games. The tempo, the contact, the physical level, are all completely different from Hong Kong. Mentally, physically and tactically, it is very demanding. We have shown we can manage physically, and we are competing with the greatest players in Asia.”
Chan, who has whiled away his spare time watching Korean series My Name on Netflix, said Hong Kong’s opening two performances “gave me and the team big confidence, and showed we are getting closer to the best teams in Asia”.
To overcome Palestine, head coach Jorn Andersen’s side might require a better deal from officials, after being stung by controversial decisions against both UAE and Iran.
Chan conceded a soft penalty in the first match, when the 21-year-old reckoned his “defensive intensity was not at Asian Cup level”.
“We can only play football, the refereeing group looks at all the decisions,” he said. “We just want a fair game, and to compete on a level playing field. The effort and mentality of everyone in the squad is amazing, we are all focused and have the same target.
“If we correct some small details, we believe we can be the happy side after 90 minutes against Palestine.”