On the opening day of Man City's summer training camp, Su Dong arrived at Carrington early.
The new training base in central Manchester was already under construction, but it was still a long way from being ready for occupancy.
As the team's captain, Su Dong had plenty to deal with, including helping the new arrivals integrate into the squad.
At yesterday's gathering, Su Dong had already introduced the new signings to the veterans, but that was only the beginning. There was still plenty of work to handle, especially when it came to managing the dressing room.
There was another important matter on the first day of camp: the medical examinations.
This was actually the biggest headache for every team and every head coach.
After an entire season, the players needed time to relax, which was understandable. But taking relaxation too far could be quite troublesome. Some players lacked self-discipline, causing their weight to shoot up immediately, and in serious cases, it could affect their performance and form.
That was why the medical examinations held on the opening day of every camp were especially important.
Su Dong was the one person no one needed to worry about, because even during his holiday, he continued training every day.
Although he had spent this period traveling around the country and sightseeing, sometimes even staying in guesthouses in remote backwaters, that had not stopped him from training. For example, he would spend some time running along mountain roads.
After maintaining that routine for so long, his physical condition had remained surprisingly good.
But the summer training that followed was the real trouble.
"There was a period last season when his form declined noticeably. After studying and discussing it, we decided to adjust his training programs and plans. The summer training period is especially important."