Tianjin Quanjian midfielder and Belgium international Axel Witsel started his professional career almost a decade ago, and has become a fixture for his national side. The 29-year-old sat down with CGTN to discuss his football journey that brought him here, and his country's chances at the upcoming World Cup in Russia. 

Q: It's been a fantastic season for you. Last season, coming to China, did you expect that kind of response from the team and the manager to do that well, considering that they were just been promoted?

A: Of course, our first objective, when we started season one, was to stay in the Super League. The class was completely different as we changed it to our objective because we started really well. Game by game, we saw we could do better than what we thought before the start of the season and finally in the end, we finished third and have qualified for the Asian Champions League. I am happy because it was big deal for me to come to China and we achieved our objective. It was also fulfilling that I helped the team. 

Q: Sometimes with players, and particularly, international players, there can be a stigma with coming to play in China because it’s considered a lower standard of football. You have still managed to keep your place in the Belgium squad and played internationals before you came. Was that something that concerned you?

A: No, because I was honest and straight with our coach Martinez. I told him that I am going to directly speak to you and tell you first about my future decisions. When I chose to come in China I just called him and I told him Europe is done and I am going to China. He just told me we will keep looking at you, keep faith. For me, of course, to play for my country, to play for the national team is always very important.

Q: You have been playing professionally for almost 13 years since you made your debut for Standard Liege. You are now 29. You still have got a long way to go. But having started so young and playing at such a high level at so young age as well, has it taken its toll on your body?

A: Yes, of course. Now I am 29, I am not old but of course, you have to take care more about your body now than before, say, when I was like 18 or 19. You prepare yourself everyday to stay fit before training. At 18 or 19 you don’t think about those factors but at 29-30 you have to take care of yourself.

Q: You have played in Portugal, Russia and now in China but not in the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga. But you still have the reputation of being a world-class talent for being the center of one of the best teams in the world. Do you think that you have proven you don’t need to have a career in those leagues to be world’s one of the best players?

A: No, I don’t think that I have to prove myself or to anybody.

Q: You didn’t play in Premier League, La Liga or in Italy and Germany, has that been out of choice?

A: Yes, it’s a choice. I mean, different players have different choices. Sometimes, it happens for a reason. But I don’t have any regrets. I am still 29 and you never know. If you look at Paulinho for an example he came to China in Guangzhou and after 2-3 years he went to Barcelona from China. So anything is possible. 

Q: What are your expectations from the World Cup?

A: We know it’s really important for us because we have a top and top players and a lot of quality in our squad. But we are giving it our best. I am 29 and our generation is getting past 30 gradually. I won’t say that it’s our last chance but everybody knows in the squad that it’s going to be very important. I think we have the team to go as far as we can. Our objective is to do better than in Brazil or in France in the European Championships. I think we have the team to do well.

Q: The England game is particularly of huge interest because it’s essentially going to be a Premier League game because both sides have players, who are predominantly from the Premier League. You will be one of the few overseas players. Who do you think has the edge?

A: It’s a hard question. We have a strong team but they are also strong. We have 8 or 9 players who are playing in England. I will say it’s a fifty-fifty.