ON POPULARITY OF SOCCER IN TAIWAN: "Unlike the outside world, soccer is not Taiwan's No 1 sport. Thus not so many care about it. For example, at the university we shared the training pitch with javelin throwers, discus throwers and women footballers. That meant we could only train on a quarter of the pitch.

ON HIS DECISION TO BECOME A PRO: "Making the decision was not that hard because I was clear that I didn't want to do what everyone else was doing; I hate going with the flow. If there was a chance, I knew I would definitely go for it."

ON TROUSSIER PLAYING HIM AS A DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER: "Playing that position could give me more chance to observe and control the game. For me it was a learning process."

ON BEING SUBSTITUTED IN A GAME AFTER JUST 20 MINUTES: "I could not accept it. I cried. And I even thought about going back to Taiwan and quitting the game. I aimed my hatred at the head coach first, but after watching the replays, I found it was my fault."

ON VOICING HIS UNSWERVING SUPPORT FOR TROUSSIER: "It was not all his fault. A successful coach needs a supportive organization and a bunch of players who can execute his tactics. For Chinese soccer, learning is the most urgent mission. No club can simply pay some money and sit there and expect good results. That is not a professional mindset."

ON PLAYING FOR SHANGHAI SHENHUA: "Professional training complex, high-quality training sessions, world-class coaches and great fans ... much better than Shenzhen. I am here to fight for a regular spot and win championships for the city."

(China Daily 05/11/2014 page11)