'Green Soul' set Red goal
It's a pre-season friendly for United and the
opportunity to shake off a few cobwebs before the start of the
title defence.
But for many of Hangzhou Greentown's players, the
game against the Premier League champions this month is the biggest
of their careers so far.
The Chinese Super League team, who were only founded in 1999, are
looking forward to facing Rooney, Berbatov and co. at the Yellow
Dragon Stadium on July 24.
ManUnited.com.cn
caught up with the Greentown players at their Zheijang base ahead
of the game, the fourth of United's
2009 Asia Tour.
YORDAN VARBANOV, DEFENDER
How did you feel when you heard Greentown would be facing
United?
I was honoured and am now really looking
forward to facing United. I did not expect to have the chance to
play against a world-class team like United when I came to
Hangzhou, not having had the opportunity earlier in my career in
Bulgaria either.
Which United players do you most admire?
I
admire Dimitar Berbatov, because he's a Bulgarian like me, but I
also appreciate the defensive qualities of Nemanja Vidic and Rio
Ferdinand.
And as a defender you may have the chance to face
Berbatov...
During the match I will be solely focused
on my game, but I hope to speak to Dimi and the other United
players after the match.
What's your evaluation of the current Greentown
team?
We are a young team of great potential who
expect to forge ahead in the Chinese Super League in the near
future. And as the team progress, I personally will
have more opportunity to develop.
VALDO, FORWARD
How much are you looking forward to the game against
United?
Very much so. It'a rare for us to face a team
of the calibre of United, so I will prepare well and hope to score
in the game.
Which player would you like to swap shirts with after the
game?
It has to be Anderson, my Brazilian
compatriot.
What's your prediction of the scoreline?
It
is difficult to predict. I only hope it's a great game and that I
will be able to score – the result is not important.
JIANG BO, GOALKEEPER
Do you know much about United's players? How do you see the match
going?
As a goalkeeper I know all about their
strikers, but it's still going to be difficult for us to keep them
out. There's a big gap between the two teams, particularly in terms
of speed and reaction, but we'll give it our best.
How important are your fans, known as the 'Green
Soul'?
They are a great help to us. They are
passionate and follow us wherever we go, and are very supportive of
our development and progress.
Who would you like to swap shirts with after
the game?
If none of my team-mates protest and I complete the full 90
minutes, then certainly Edwin van der Sar, because we are both
goalkeepers.
ZHANG YE, FORWARD
You're the only Greentown player to have faced United before,
having played for Shenzhen FC in 2007. What do you
remember
of that game?
I must admit, I was very
nervous the first time, because it felt strange to be playing
against a team I had seen so often on TV. There's a big gap in
quality between us. But I consider myself very lucky to be able to
face them twice. Last time I came up against Darren Fletcher in the
game, and hope that experience helps me to produce a better
performance this time for Greentown.
Do you follow the English game?
Not many live
English matches are broadcast in Hangzhou, but I watch them
whenever I can. In the Champions League final, United were on top
in the first 10 minutes but couldn't take their chances and
Barcelona's first goal put them under a lot of pressure. But it was
a high-quality game.
WU WEI CHAO, DEFENDER
What do you hope to gain from the experience of facing
United?
My main goal is to learn and improve my game.
Although I have faced other top teams in the past while playing in
Hong Kong, I appreciate English football very much and we can learn
a lot from the skill and spirit of the English league.
You are a full-back – how are you going to stop Rooney and
Berbatov if they play?
Rooney and Berbatov are
quality attacking players, so I will mark them closely and won’t
give them too much space.
