A-League Women side Canberra United announced the signing of Chinese midfielder Wu Chengshu from China's Women's Super League side Jiangsu Suning FC in Canberra, Australia on Nov. 10, 2022. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)
Chinese international Wu Chengshu has earned recognition from her new club, A-League Women side Canberra United.
CANBERRA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Canberra United chief executive Chris Gardiner and head coach Njegosh Popovich say they are confident that Chinese international Wu Chengshu can lead the club to A-League Women's glory.
Canberra United on Thursday announced the signing of Wu on loan from Chinese Women Super League club Jiangsu FC for the 2022-23 season of Australia's women's football top flight.
Known colloquially as Xixi, Wu has become a first-choice midfielder for the Steel Roses, and played in China's 3-2 win over South Korea in the final of the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup.
She joins a Canberra United side that is aiming to end an eight-year title drought after missing the playoffs in 2021-22, finishing only seventh in the table.
Wu Chengshu poses with her Canberra United jersey in Canberra, Australia on Nov. 10, 2022. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)
Former assistant Popovich was appointed Canberra's new head coach in May, and declared at the time that the club should be challenging for league titles.
In an interview with Xinhua, Popovich said Wu will be a key player for Canberra as a regular starter.
"Our target is always to win. Canberra United has a very, very proud history of winning championships and we want to continue that. And particularly with the help and assistance of Xixi, I think that we are going to be able to do so," he said.
"We wouldn't have brought her here if she wasn't a regular starter, and I think that not only will she be a highlight for us as a team, Canberra United, I think she'll be a highlight for the whole league."
Wu Chengshu (L) of China vies with Lin Ya Han of Chinese Taipei during the 2022 EAFF (East Asian Football Federation) E-1 Football Championship women's match at Toyota Stadium in Toyota City in Aichi prefecture, Japan on July 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Usually playing as a wide midfielder, Wu has emerged as a major attacking threat for China's national team, scoring the first goal against Japan in the Asian Cup semifinal.
However, Popovich said for Canberra she would primarily be used as a central midfielder, where she can use her pace and playmaking to create chances for others.
"Maybe for her national team, her best position is out wide. But I feel like she can actually do a really, really good job for us centrally, at our club in Canberra," he said.
"We've got a lot of speed up front. We just need the players to be able to find them, and I think that Xixi has that ability to do it with both feet.
"I think she'll bring a lot more professionalism to what our girls are used to. The Chinese national team are always very, very technically proficient and very professional in everything they do from warmup through to the game. So I think that'll be a benefit for us."
Wu Chengshu (R) of China competes against Chiba Remina of Japan during a 2022 EAFF (East Asian Football Federation) E-1 Football Championship women's match at Kashima Soccer Stadium in Kashima City in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan on July 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Canberra, the only club in the A-League Women not associated with a team in the men's competition, won only two of their 14 games in the 2021-22 season and drew another seven.
Chief executive Gardiner flagged Wu's partnership with striker Michelle Heyman as one that will excite fans.
Heyman, 34, is the leading scorer in league history with more than 80 goals in 141 appearances - more than 100 of which have been for Canberra across two stints with the club.
"Chengshu is very fast, so she adds to our attacking ability as a side. She'll play very well off a couple of our other players. And we have one of the top names in football still playing for us in Michelle Heyman," Gardiner told Xinhua.
"She's been selected because she strengthens our midfield and she brings an attacking quality to the midfield." ■
