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China's coach confident about London Olympics despite losing bronze at Asiad

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As a player, Li Xiaopeng wrote his name in Chinese soccer history after netting the national team's first goal at the last-round Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cups in 2001.

One year later, Li and his teammates stepped on the biggest stage of world's soccer. It's the first time for himself, and also for China.

Now as a coach, Li's job, the coach of the women's national team, especially seemed tough after his side losing to South Korea with a fourth-placed finish at the Asian Games.

One year later, whether the team could clinch a berth for London Olympics was not sure for fans.

But for Li, in front of a series of defeats, he was still confident like a fighter.

"The team is still hopeful, so I will not leave the position," said Li after the match on Monday, refuting the rumours that he would propose a resignation after Asiad.

"If there is no hope, I will definitely leave even if no one forces me to do that. But now, as there is hope in this team, I will stay. And I will prove their potentials and abilities in future," Li added.

Two early goals in the first half propelled South Korea to clinch the bronze medal in the seven-team tournament. And China failed to repeat the third-place result in Doha four years ago when they beat the same side 2-0.

On the losing medal, Li said it was meaningless to himself.

"Every coach is eager to grab a gold, so do I and my team.

"Due to the strategy problem, we didn't play our best in this game. That's my responsibility. The medal may be important to our players, but not to me." said Li.

Just like what he said, the 35-year-old coach, concentrating more on the improving processes than results, showed his courage in Guangzhou. He nearly gave all of his 18 players chances onto the ground in the tournament. Among them, many players are under the age of 24.

For example, Zhang Yue, the 20-year-old goalkeeper, is always a substitute for the first-choice Zhang Yanru. But the young girl had gradually taken up the leading position both in the group stage and knockout round, even including an influential semifinal against Japan.

Li's courage was praised by the opponent. "We have much more experienced players compared to China in this game. And their young players showed great potentials," Japan's coach Norio Sasaki commented.

In all its five games at Asiad, China won two and lost three.

The result seemed bitter, but Li cared less about it, comparing it to "paying tuition".

"I'm a young coach, so is my team. Let me make an comparison.

"When we climb mountains, we may slide a little or stop for a while, but our aim still is to reach the top," said Li, who took the coach position in August.

In the next year's Asian zone qualifiers for London Olympics, China had to fight against arch rivals South Korea, DPR Korea and Japan for the only two berths.

The job seemed difficult, but Li showed confidence both to himself and his team.

"In the past three months, we have practised organising attacks from the backline to the midfield. Now, we still need another six months to know how to build up from midfield to the front,"

"My players have potentials and improving spaces. And I believe in them." said Li.