From a Painful 0–4 to a Promising Tomorrow: An Exclusive Interview with U23 China Head Coach Antonio

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) — When the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read 0–4. On the night of Jan. 24, China’s U23 men’s national team fell to defending champions Japan in the final of the AFC U23 Asian Cup. The result was undeniably harsh, yet it could not overshadow the promise, resilience, and flashes of brilliance shown by this young Chinese side throughout the tournament. After the match, Xinhua spoke exclusively with head coach Antonio, who confronted the disappointment head-on while choosing to focus on growth and the road ahead.

“The scoreline looks harsh, but the gap is real”

Reflecting on the one-sided score, Antonio was both composed and candid. “First of all, the first two goals we conceded were a heavy blow for us,” the Spanish coach said through an interpreter. On this particular night, fortune did not favor China. “Two of the goals came from deflections, which is simply unlucky, and then there was also a penalty.”

Despite the final result, Antonio emphasized that his team did create chances of their own, even if they failed to convert them. In his view, the 0–4 scoreline was “somewhat exaggerated,” though he acknowledged that a genuine gap in overall strength remains.

“We faced a team that is stronger than us, with players who are at a world-class level,” he said. For Antonio, competing against a powerhouse like Japan is valuable in itself. While losing a final is painful, he believes China’s overall performance throughout the Asian Cup was highly encouraging.

A harvest after years of cultivation

This U23 squad bears Antonio’s unmistakable imprint. Over the past several years, he has watched these players grow much like a parent watches children mature. When asked whether this Asian Cup run represented a long-awaited moment of “harvest,” Antonio answered without hesitation.

“Without a doubt. People have already seen our success in this tournament,” he said. Having worked closely with these players for years, Antonio has witnessed their steady and substantial progress. More importantly, he stressed that this development does not belong only to the current group. “We know that even better players will continue to emerge in the future.”

As a fourth-seeded team reaching the final, China surprised many observers. Yet Antonio remains clear-eyed about where Chinese football currently stands within Asia.

“Our goal is to consistently play high-intensity matches against top teams,” he explained. “By doing that, step by step, the distance between us and them will continue to shrink.”

That long-term commitment is beginning to translate into renewed confidence among fans. Antonio noted with satisfaction that the team’s performances have “reignited the passion for football among hundreds of millions of Chinese supporters,” laying a strong foundation for the sport’s future development.

A New Year message: proud of their perseverance

With the Lunar New Year approaching, Antonio was asked to share a message with his players. His response was heartfelt and simple: “I am proud of them.”

That pride, he said, extends far beyond what happened on the pitch. Preparing for this tournament required a long and demanding training period, defined by strict discipline and team principles. “It was a tough and extended preparation phase,” Antonio said. “We have our own rules and standards, and the players followed them all. That is not easy to achieve.”

The 0–4 defeat was not the ending this young team hoped for. Yet, as Antonio concluded, “We have the future, and that is the greatest piece of good news.” The lessons learned from defeat, the understanding of the gap at the highest level, and the unity and discipline forged through hard training together form the true source of hope for Chinese football.