Recently, Lippi, the much-anticipated former Chinese soccer manager and legendary coach in the Chinese Super League, once again gave his insights on Chinese soccer in an exclusive interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
Lippi coached Guangzhou for more than two years and was the head coach of the national football team between 2016 and 2019, an experience that allowed him to experience and witness the rise and peak of investment in the national football team, as well as being one of the experts in Europe who knows a lot about the national football team.
During his time coaching the national football team, Lippi has repeatedly emphasized the importance of youth training. Unfortunately, however, despite the past years, there seems to be no significant progress in the youth training of the national football team, "In China, soccer once reached its peak, but gradually declined due to the lack of a quality youth training foundation." Lippi elaborated thus.
Prior to this, Lippi had pointed out in an interview that the current national football team has regressed 20 years, both at the league and national team level, there has been a significant regression. Currently participating in the 12 strong national team, had to rely on a number of 30-year-old veterans and naturalized players to support the situation.
He then turned to talk about UAE soccer, "After the World Cup, I hope to observe what is happening in the UAE, without youth training as a cornerstone, it is difficult for soccer to develop solidly."
