In the early morning of January 11, the new men's football team, unprecedented in the history of soccer in China, assembled at the Shanghai Pudong Jinqiao Marriott Red Maple Hotel, blowing the horn for the January 27th away challenge to Japan and February 1st against Vietnam in the 12-team tournament.
Looking back at the first six group matches of the 12-team tournament, our team finished a close second with five points from a record of one win, two draws and three losses. After a match against Australia, our head coach Li Tie's 32-minute passionate speech was like lighting a social media fuse, and the ensuing storm of public opinion made Li Tie leave the field in disgrace. Successor Li Xiaopeng, with his high emotional intelligence, is widely expected to build a harmonious relationship with the media and fans.
In the face of media questions, Li Xiaopeng expressed his own views, he expects the media and fans can give our men's football more tolerance and understanding. He used the fish as a metaphor: "In the past, when in the club, the team experienced the pain of boiling; now as the national team head coach, leading the team competitively, if it does not go well, it is directly the test of the barbecue, there is no transition process."
Li Xiaopeng emphasized that China's men's football team is extra special in the sports family, like a naughty son, sometimes may not be too honorable, and even add to the chaos, but the players and coaches are trying their best to make the best of things. He called for both encouragement and criticism to be based on understanding and support for our men's soccer team now. Because, in order for the fighters to give full play, they need a relaxed mindset, not a heavy burden.
