Li Lei has been continuously overlooked by national team head coaches Jankovic and Ivankovic, probably because of his technical characteristics. Li Lei is good at playing as a left back in Chinese football, and is a typical player with more attacking power than defense. Although he is good at attacking and inserting in front of the ball, he is relatively weak in defense, and often fails to return to the defense in time. Therefore, in the eyes of Jankovic and Ivankovic, who focus on defense, it seems reasonable for Li Lei to be overlooked.
Li Lei was not well known in the Chinese Super League until he was favored and promoted by Italy's famous coach Lippi, who gave him the opportunity to join the Chinese national team and gradually developed into a highly respected local wing-back. Thus, in a way, Lippi had a significant influence on Li Lei. But now, Lippi has left while Li Lei has been neglected by two national team managers in a row, which may lead to the possibility of him gradually fading out of the national team.
