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Hong Kong (AFP) – Raul Baena lower his enamel in Barcelona’s youth sides alongside Sergio Busquets and was later Mauricio Pochettino’s trusted lieutenant on the coronary heart of Espanyol’s midfield in La Liga.
However it’s in Hong Kong that the previous Spain under-21 worldwide lastly gained a league title, after which performed a pivotal function in making a small piece of historical past for the Chinese language metropolis’s soccer.
The 33-year-old defensive midfielder scored the injury-time equaliser for Kitchee in a 2-2 draw with Andres Iniesta’s Vissel Kobe this month, propelling them into the Asian Champions League knockout rounds.
It was the primary time {that a} Hong Kong workforce obtained that far within the area’s prime membership competitors. Capping a dramatic night for Baena, he was despatched off within the dying moments.
The Hong Kong champions’ exploits had been all of the extra exceptional as a result of their preparations had been badly disrupted by a Covid outbreak that took off in January and largely closed down town of about 7.5 million individuals.
“I nonetheless consider it each day regardless of being on trip,” Baena instructed AFP from Spain, the place he’s taking day out as a result of soccer in Hong Kong is suspended as a result of pandemic.
“That aim was a vital second for me. I do know (additionally) what it means for Kitchee, for Hong Kong.
“It’s a historic aim that helps us to proceed to develop, proceed to enhance and proceed to place Hong Kong in an excellent place in Asian soccer.”
Kitchee play Thailand’s BG Pathum United within the final 16 in August.
– ‘You’ll be able to’t do something’ –
Baena’s profession began in Barcelona’s youth groups alongside Busquets, who has gone on to win the World Cup with Spain and three Champions League titles.
Lionel Messi was additionally coming by means of the ranks on the Camp Nou on the time.
Baena didn’t comply with them into the primary workforce, as an alternative shifting to metropolis rivals Espanyol, the place he made practically 100 appearances and have become a mainstay underneath now Paris Saint-Germain boss Pochettino.
From there adopted strikes to fellow Spanish sides Rayo Vallecano and Granada, with stints additionally in Australia and Greece.
After which in December 2020, Kitchee, who in pre-Covid instances performed in entrance of some thousand followers and as soon as had former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan, got here calling.
“I appreciated the very fact of enjoying within the Asian Champions League, being in a robust Hong Kong workforce and combating for the titles which I had by no means gained as knowledgeable,” stated Baena.
However life and soccer haven’t been simple in Hong Kong since an Omicron variant-fuelled surge in coronavirus infections despatched town right into a semi-lockdown.
Restrictions are loosening however final season’s home competitions had been cancelled halfway by means of — a brand new season is meant to start out in August — and the group levels of the Champions League passed off in impartial international locations.
Kitchee performed in Thailand however previous to that had not been capable of practise collectively correctly in Hong Kong. They needed to run in masks and Baena was generally coaching on his personal.
“It has been tough bodily and mentally,” Baena stated.
“We’re right here to play soccer, we’ve got been doing this all our lives and instantly you can not do something.”
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