Zhu ready to take the heat at Asian Cup
Under fire national soccer team head coach Zhu Guanghu says he is ready to live or die by his team's performances at the upcoming Asian Cup.
"I know there have been lots of comments for and against me. I will take responsibility for the wins and also for the defeats. I want to say whatever happens, please do not put the pressure on the players - put it on me. Even if someone has a knife to my throat, I have nothing to fear as long as China's soccer improves," Zhu told a press conference on Monday.
Zhu Guanghu Wu Jun |
"In the past two years as head coach, nobody has ever interfered with my work. Officials from China Football Association have supported me all the time. It's just like my last 20 years as head coach - I've never had my work affected."
Zhu said he would sacrifice everything to make Chinese soccer better.
"I know people attacked me and the team after poor performances during the training tour in the United States. I just wanted to give more experience to some players who rarely have the chance to compete abroad."
China suffered a 4-1 thrashing by Team USA and a 1-0 loss to the worst side in Major League Soccer, Real Salt Lake. A 2-1 win over Colorado Rapids in the last match did little to appease angry fans.
"I am willing to lie down on the ground and let them use my back to walk forward. As long as China's soccer can go forward, I will have no regrets if I'm just a stepping stone."
Upbeat mood
Zhu said despite the recent poor form players were in upbeat mood at training camp in Hebei Province.
"They are going crazy during training. They are shouting and screaming at each other and trying to encourage each other. It's amazing," Zhu told Titan Sports.
"This is what I have been expecting for a long time. Compared to European players, Chinese players tend not to reveal their inner feelings. We lack mutual encouragement and support.
"Soccer is team sport. I am so glad to see everybody pulling closer together.
"I told them as long as we keep this kind of form and determination, we will able to fight with every team in Asia."
Notorious for losing to lower ranked teams, the national team is determined to prove that this time it can rise to the challenge.
"I see the motivation in everyone. They are pushing me and boosting my confidence," Zhu said.
"We will keep our eyes on the semifinals. There is nothing to prevent us from achieving the goal."
After the training camp in Xianghe, the team is heading to Hong Kong for two final warm-ups. On July 1, China will challenge a World Stars team, and on July 4 they will meet Australian club champions Melbourne Victory.
China's first game is against Malaysia on July 10th in Kuala Lumpur. Also in Group C is powerhouse Iran and dark horse Uzbekistan. The tournament is being hosted by Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Strongest squad
For the first time in two years Zhu is able to send out his strongest team.
"All the overseas players are in the team and the best players from domestic leagues are also joining in. It is the first time I have the best Chinese players together."
The squad includes most of the Europe-based stars like Manchester United forward Dong Fangzhuo, former Charlton midfielder Zheng Zhi, Sheffield United's Li Tie, Cottbus playmaker Shao Jiayi, Manchester City's Sun Jihai and Sun Xiang, who played for PSV Einhoven last season.
Bundesliga star Shao played down China's recent embarrassing performances, insisting the team is capable of reaching the last four.
"Losing in pre-tournament friendlies is not necessarily a bad thing," the Energie Cottbus midfielder told the Asian Football Confederation website.
"It helps us find out more about our problems and we can correct them before we play in real matches. I don't think our form in these friendlies is any indication of what lies ahead."
Shao said the squad was much stronger than the one beaten by Japan in the final three years ago.
"There have been very few changes in the team though some players like Hao Haidong, Li Ming and Li Xiaopeng have retired," he said.
"But most of the other elite players from the Asian Cup 2004 are still in the current national squad and this is very good. I personally believe this (squad) is stronger than the previous one."
Sun Jihai, one of the team's most experienced players, was part of the squad that lost to Japan in the 2004 Asian Cup final in Beijing.
"Sometimes I think if I had have more time on the pitch in 2004, China would have won the Asian Cup," Sun, who spent most of his time on the bench, told Titan Sports.
Sun is a versatile player who has played all across the defense and midfield for club Manchester City over the past five years.
"The whole team is preparing very well. We have the best players here. I hope we will make it into semifinal and more importantly win back the passion and trust of Chinese fans."
(China Daily 06/27/2007 page22)
