Published: 11:45, July 15, 2020 | Updated: 22:23, June 5, 2023
CSL players worry about mental fatigue, says Shanghai SIPG goalkeeper
By Xinhua

In this March 26, 2018 photo, Chinese goalkeeper Yan Junling (first left) plays during the match between China and the Czech Republic at the 2018 China Cup International Football Championship in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (CAO CAN / XINHUA)

BEIJING - Shanghai SIPG goalkeeper Yan Junling has warned the Chinese top league players against psychological fatigue that could happen in the second month of the truncated season.

Yan Junling, who is also the first-choice goalkeeper of the Chinese national side, said he will treat the matches as ones being played away

The Chinese Super League (CSL) teams have been split into two groups, each group of eight sides to be based in the same hotel, to play the first phase of the season behind closed doors from July 25 to September 28.

The players are required to cut off from contact with the outside to prevent the COVID-19 spreading and will be confined to their hotels when not playing or training.

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"This is a tournament-style league, something unprecedented. I think the players can cope with it for the first month. And they may need psychological adjustment in the second month," Yan said on Tuesday.

Yan, who is also the first-choice goalkeeper of the Chinese national side, said he will treat the matches as ones being played away.

"To play for two months in a closed-off area is rather demanding," he said. "I will take it as playing away from home. We'll be very occupied as we have to play a match every three or four days," he said.