Sources say the CFA will face a challenge of weighing the pros and cons in front of Ivankovic's firm stance. On the one hand, they are eager for the foreign coach to help the Chinese national team break through and strive for a ticket to the finals of the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico; on the other hand, the homegrown coaching staff, especially the force headed by Zheng Zhi, plays a role that should not be underestimated in the national team. If the coordination is not proper, the national team is afraid to fall into internal strife. How to properly handle the balance between Chinese and foreign coaches has become a thorny issue that the FA must deal with carefully.
Although the contradiction between Ivankovic and the Chinese coaching staff of the national football team seems to be sharp, but it is not all unresolved. For the best interests of the national football team, both sides should seek consensus through communication and negotiation. In order to meet the expectations of Ivankovic, the FA may need to reorganize or adjust the positioning of the coaching team. At the same time, Ivankovic should also respect the local coaches, and actively work together to help the national football team out of the predicament.
If the rumors are true, the internal structure of the national football team will face a huge change. This change also prompted the Football Association to reflect deeply on the management model of Chinese soccer.
The conflict between Ivankovic and the Chinese coaching staff of the national football team maps out a microcosm of the development path of Chinese soccer. At this moment, the national football need is not blame and whining, but understanding, communication and collaboration. Only in this way can the FA and Ivankovic work together to help Chinese soccer return to the right path, and strive to show excellent strength in the world preliminaries, and work hard to return to the World Cup finals.
