Zhong Yihao: Nearly Left the Team Early This Year & Lost 14 Pounds During Winter Training, Eager to Win a Championship for Henan

Reporter Lu Mi reports In the past year with Henan, Zhong Yihao has gone through ups and downs from starting player to substitute and back to the starting eleven. Life has its challenges, but Zhong Yihao consistently strives to "improve himself." He admitted to reporters that the key to his resurgence this season lies in the rigorous discipline he maintained during winter training. He also appreciates the confidence head coach Ramos placed in him by positioning him appropriately and motivating him to realize his capabilities. From scoring after coming off the bench to contributing fully on both offense and defense, he always prioritizes the team's interests.

Looking ahead to the upcoming FA Cup final, Zhong Yihao believes this is the team's closest moment to a championship. He intends to bring Henan's fierce determination to "defy the odds" and fight hard for this title, leaving his own mark in the history of Henan football.

◆Football Magazine: After winning the 27th round home game against Changchun Yatai and securing the team's survival, how did you feel at that moment?

Zhong Yihao: I felt pretty good because successfully avoiding relegation means completing our mission. There are still three rounds left, and we aim to perform well in those last matches and enter the FA Cup final in the best possible condition. We need to start conserving energy now.

◆Your form has been excellent in the second half of the season. Do you feel like you've regained the form you had two years ago?

Compared to my own expectations, there is still room for improvement, but since the winter training phase, I have consciously adjusted both my physical condition and mental state, always striving to "become better." At this moment, I truly feel I am in my best shape.

◆You've played multiple positions over the years. In Henan's tactical system this season, how does coach Ramos define your role, and how do you define yourself?

Over the years, I have indeed tried various positions on the field. For me, within coach Ramos's tactical system, the most important thing is not to let the coach down. Regardless of where I am placed, I will give my all to perform well and repay the trust through my actions.

◆In the match against Yatai, with Cardoso suspended, how did you cope with the absence of such a key player?

Whether on the field or off it, all players on our team share a consistent understanding of the coach’s tactics. Everyone clearly knows their responsibilities and the specific technical and tactical requirements for their position. Because of this, we can quickly build chemistry and seamlessly coordinate in a very short time.

◆In the first half of the season, you were mostly a substitute and often did not play. Did you feel uneasy during that period?

I definitely had some thoughts about it, especially since last year I barely played for over a year. Honestly, at my age, I want to get as much playing time as possible. During this process, I also adjusted my mindset, treating every training session like a match to maintain my form.

◆Whenever you come on as a substitute, it seems like you hold back a lot of energy, trying to express something through your effort. Is that right?

Actually, I’m not trying to express anything specific. The team's tangible victories are the best outcome. For me personally, I fully obey any instructions from the coach. Now, as you can see, whether it’s the team’s overall changes or my personal adjustments, the ultimate goal remains the same: the team’s benefit always comes first.

◆Compared to when you first joined in 2022, has the gap been quite large?

Actually, every year in Henan has been different, and my mentality has naturally fluctuated. But that’s just life, right? Last year I went through some difficulties but also gained growth, becoming more mature. I always feel those hardships were both a test and a valuable gain.

◆After Ramos took over, he immediately brought you back to the starting lineup. What ideas did he share during your first conversation that made you feel "I’ve finally found the right direction"?

For me, the coach brought more confidence. I’ve always believed that a good coach can place players in the most suitable positions to maximize their potential. The coach constantly reminds me to focus on details, and I’m very thankful for his trust. So whether in training or matches, I always strive to perform well and repay that trust.

◆You started as a key player, then became a substitute, and now you’re back in the starting lineup. How do you view the gains and losses in this process?

Honestly, I’ve worked with different coaches over the years, each with their own tactics and styles. Whether starting or on the bench, the first priority is to take care of myself. I treat every training session like a game. Now that I’m older and more mature, I have no other thoughts but to train hard and perform well when I play, helping the team win more matches. My original intention hasn’t changed despite the ups and downs.

◆Football Magazine: Last year wasn’t ideal, partly because Nan Ji didn’t quite like your personality. How do you view your own personality?

Zhong Yihao: I do have a straightforward personality; the better the coach treats me, the more I won’t disappoint him, only aiming to repay with better performances. Past experiences have made me more mature and stricter with myself. For example, I lost 14 pounds during winter training this year and have basically stopped eating noodles to maintain a low body fat percentage. Additionally, I’m working on smoothing out my rough edges.

◆Earlier this year, many Chinese Super League clubs contacted you, including relegation-threatened and title-contending teams. What were your thoughts given the situation at the time?

Honestly, I seriously considered leaving and even discussed it with the club. Mainly, I didn’t want to waste time or drain the club’s resources and my own energy. My only thought was to get more playing time because I was anxious about not playing here.

Later, talks didn’t work out, so I stayed. Since I remained, I told myself to train 100% hard and fight for playing opportunities. I never slack off in training. For example, I proactively lost weight and have maintained it well. All this is just because I want to play and genuinely help the team.

◆So staying meant accepting limited playing time, right?

I stayed to train hard, and after training, I fight for chances to prove myself. It’s that simple.

◆The team’s performance has fluctuated greatly, especially early in the year. Whenever the team was behind, fans shouted for "Zhong Yihao to come on." How do you feel about these calls?

Hearing fans shout my name moved and excited me deeply. I see it as their trust and recognition of my past performances. Their support is why I’ve held on and continued my career with Henan. Honestly, I’m very grateful to the fans.

◆Ramos said you have an extremely strong desire to compete. How does this fighting spirit translate into actual performance in the new system?

Compared to before, my biggest change is focusing more on defense. I want to contribute to the team on both offense and defense, which is not only a tactical requirement but also the coach’s clear demand. So in every game, I do my best to help the team. Also, I review the match the next day to summarize what went well and what needs improvement. Now, I can face matches with a calmer mindset.

◆Football Magazine: You’ve scored 5 goals this season. Do you have specific goals for the upcoming matches? What does the team hope to achieve?

Zhong Yihao: In the final stage, I want to climb higher on the points table if possible, and personally, I want to score more goals and provide more assists. For the team, we still have the FA Cup final ahead, and winning the championship is our ultimate goal.

◆When you first arrived, you said you wanted to help Henan compete for a championship. Given the team’s momentum and strength back then, the team could have achieved better results. Looking back, do you feel any regrets?

Looking back now, that year was truly a great opportunity. During the first phase in Haikou, the team’s momentum was strong, and we had great potential to rise, especially with the high-quality foreign players making the squad very strong. We thought we could achieve better results, but various reasons prevented that. Thinking about it now, it’s still a pity. With that lineup and performance, I sincerely believe we could have finished in the top four or even fought for an AFC Champions League spot. That regret still lingers.

◆Although this season’s league journey had some ups and downs, the FA Cup run has reached the final.

We didn’t expect this outcome at first. But after beating Shenhua away and advancing to the semifinals, I had a feeling we would make it to Suzhou. In the end, we turned that feeling into reality through a penalty shootout. Facing the league leaders Chengdu, we stayed calm and thought, why not give it our all? What if we succeed?

◆When you advanced to the final, how did this team make you feel?

Honestly, the spirit of "Henan always defies the odds" is truly alive in our team! Plus, having such passionate fans supporting us is incredibly powerful. When I was an opponent, I didn’t notice much, but after joining, I realized this "defy the odds" spirit is genuine—an innate refusal to give up. Isn’t that what competitive sports are about? You have to have that relentless spirit.

◆The FA Cup final is the closest you’ve come to the goal set when you joined Henan. How much can you draw from the league win over Beijing Guoan?

Everyone knows Beijing Guoan’s real level shouldn’t be what it is now. We all expect the FA Cup final to be tough because cup matches differ greatly in pace and style from league games, and the opponent’s strength is obvious. So we will fight with our lowest posture. Also, this is our closest chance at a championship, and I especially want to fight for a title with Henan, leaving my own mark in the club’s history.