Hong Kong’s Shinichi Chan enjoys ‘tension’ of Chinese Super League title chase in Shanghai
Players gaining experience outside the city can help to create a fearless Hong Kong team, defender says
Shinichi Chan says he has grown in stature physically and developed a no-fear attitude since joining Chinese Super League title contenders Shanghai Shenhua.
When he left Kitchee for Shanghai in June, Hong Kong defender Chan said one reason was seeing the improvements made by mainland China-based representative team colleagues. Early evidence indicates the 22-year-old is making similar gains.
In Hong Kong matches over the past week against Liechtenstein and Cambodia, a noticeably broader and more robust Chan effortlessly slotted into Ashley Westwood’s flexible backline, looking comfortable in the new coach’s possession-hungry model.
Chan has featured in eight CSL games for his club, including starting a high-stakes 3-1 win over Shanghai Port, who have a two-point lead over their city rivals at the top of the league with three matches left.
“I am used to title races with Kitchee, but the scale of it is much bigger in China,” Chan said. “The standard is very high in every training session and every game. There is good competition between teammates [for starting positions].
