China

ZZ says English game too fast

(AFP)
Updated: 2007-02-13 08:48

Chinese captain Zheng Zhi, who made his Premier League debut for Charlton against Manchester United on Saturday, said he had yet to adjust to the speed and intensity of the English game.

Charlton Athletic's Zheng Zhi, centre, makes his English Premier League debut against Manchester United at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday Feb. [AP]

"During a match of 90 minutes here, every minute, every second is high intensity and high speed football, so there is a big difference with China," he told news website Sina.com.

The 26-year-old, who signed from Shandong Luneng on loan last month, said that the physical intensity of the game was the biggest barrier to Chinese players coming into the Premiership.

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"Getting used to this level of intensity is the biggest challenge for me and any other Chinese players wanting to follow me over here," he said. "Once past that, I don’t see very much of a problem in any other areas."

Charlton lost 2-0 to Manchester United and Zheng said he was stunned that the whole match was played at high velocity.

"In China it's a bit slower and there is not such a high level of intense confrontation."

Zheng, brought on in the 40th minute for Amady Faye, said he felt that Asian players were welcome in the Premiership as long as they were up to standard.

He said Park Ji-sung, Manchester United's South Korean midfielder, was proof that Asians can succeed.

"It doesn't matter whether you are from Asia, Africa or Latin America. They have good players from everywhere playing here," he said.

Zheng is one of half a dozen Chinese currently with Premiership clubs. But so far only Manchester City’s Sun Jihai has managed to hold down a regular first-team place.

Charlton boss Alan Pardew was impressed by Zheng's debut, saying: "The one thing that is very evident is that he does not give possession away too often.

"He has good energy. The bigger the pitch, the better it is for him."