European coach directly addresses China U23's goals after draw with Thailand

Coach Antonio pleased with China U23's second-half display, confirms not prioritizing outcome, and stresses primary objective is preparation for ASIAD 2026.

After the 2-2 draw between China U23 and Thailand U23 On March 25th, Coach Antonio made notable remarks at the press conference, particularly emphasizing the team's improvement in the second half.

This strategist acknowledged the team faced difficulties early in the match due to a long break and the inclusion of many new players. “We hadn’t played together for two months, and there were many new players, so the first match inevitably had certain challenges”, he shared.

A turning point came after halftime when the coaching staff made appropriate adjustments. “During the break, we mainly encouraged the players and adjusted some tactical points, which clearly brought positive results”, Antonio said.

He expressed satisfaction with the performance in the second half, when China U23 significantly increased pressure on the opponent. “We were very pleased with the second half. The players pressed well up front, continuously applied pressure, and created many dangerous attacking situations”, this coach stated.

According to Antonio, this is precisely the direction the team needs to maintain going forward. “That is the approach we want to develop to achieve victory”, he emphasized.

Despite securing a point after trailing, the Spanish coach affirmed that the result was not the top priority in this match. “We don’t overly focus on the result. The important thing is to observe and evaluate the new players”, he said.

Antonio also mentioned that China U23 is in a rebuilding phase and needs more time to refine. “We have many new faces, so matches like this are opportunities to test and improve the squad”, he added.

In conclusion, the coach confirmed that the team's main goal this year does not lie in friendly matches. “Our ultimate goal is ASIAD, and the entire team is focused on that tournament”, Antonio concluded.