tribalfootball.com caught up with Shaanxi Chanba midfielder Jonas Salley to discuss the new Chinese Super League season.
tf.com - With the Chinese Super League season just around the corner, how do you rate the club's chances of success this season especially after finishing 12th in 2009?
JS - "I don't have any doubt about this squad this season and with the hard work the team has done so far on and off field it is going to pay off. The club has recruited some good players for this season which means we are looking for a top-four finish."
tf.com - How has pre-season training been? Is the squad looking strong?
JS - "We had a good pre-season. It was hard and we did work as a team during the off-season. We are confident so we can't wait to start the season (against Dalian Shide at home this weekend)."
tf.com - Are you still enjoying your time in China and are you adapting to the lifestyle change?
KS - "Of course I'm still enjoying that's why I'm back in China. I may say that I make it easy, simple for myself. I don't really think about the lifestyle. After training or a game I just spend time with my fiancé and friends to get away from the football side of things."
tf.com - I hear that Mohamed Kallon has signed with Shaanxi. What sort of impact has he had on the other players seeing as he has such a strong past, playing with clubs such as Inter Milan and Monaco?
JS - "To be honest, even myself, I never thought that I'll play alongside him. It's a big boost seeing somebody like that around. My teammates including myself, we are so privileged."
tf.com - Have any other key players joined this season?JS - "Yeah, we do have 3 or 4 players from the Chinese national team (Zhao Xuri, Qu Bo & Mao Jianqing) and ex-Manchester City player Sun Jihai including Kallon, so we are looking good."
tf.com - What's next for Jonas Salley? Will you just see how 2010 pans out and go from there or do you have plans to play elsewhere?
JS - "The sky is the limit for Jonas Salley. I haven't achieved my dreams yet so I keep working hard and be positive. For now I'm just focusing to play well this year then we'll see."
