JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- China lost 4-0 to Japan in the AFC U23 Asian Cup final on Saturday, but head coach Antonio Puche said the runner-up finish marked the start of a longer journey rather than a conclusion.
"We have the future," the Spaniard told Xinhua after the match.
"First of all, I give the team a perfect 10," Puche said. "The team's performance throughout the tournament has been absolutely amazing. We improved match by match, and this is what we've been working toward."
China entered the tournament seeded in the fourth pot and was drawn into a challenging group, but Puche said his players refused to be defined by expectations.
"We were in the fourth pot, but we didn't let that define us. We knew we had to prove ourselves, and we did," he said, while acknowledging the final as a tough lesson against elite opposition.
"Our opponent was incredibly strong, and their players are at a world-class level," he added. "But the fact that we reached the final as a team in the fourth pot is a testament to our progress."
Puche credited detailed preparation for China's run to the final, noting the unique demands of short-format tournaments.
"Unlike a long and continuous league season, this kind of tournament requires specific preparation," he said.
"The schedule is tight, and every match is decisive. We had to do a lot of work in advance, not just during it," he said. "We had to adapt to different opponents, different tactics and different styles. Every match required a different strategy, and we worked hard to prepare for that."
The coaching staff carried out nearly 50 days of training and extensive video analysis during the buildup.
"We worked on our 5-3-2 defensive structure, which has been the backbone of our performances. We also focused on controlling the ball, because we believed that was the key to competing with stronger teams," Puche said.
The shift from a purely defensive approach to a more possession-based style proved decisive during the tournament.
"In the past, we were known for our defensive resilience, but we wanted to show that we could control the match as well," Puche said. "This is what we worked on for months, and it paid off."
Asked about the broader significance of China's breakthrough, Puche returned to his central theme.
"The most important thing is that we have the future. This is the biggest good news," he said. "We believe that through these players, we will bring more joy to Chinese football."
"And we believe our performances have already sparked a passion for football among hundreds of millions of Chinese fans. This is a very strong foundation for the future of Chinese football," he said.
Puche said the achievement reflects years of development across multiple age groups. He first coached in China in 2018, working with the 2003-04 age group. After guiding that cohort to the U20 Asian Cup quarterfinals in 2023, he returned in 2024 to take charge of the U21 national team.
"People have seen it in this tournament. We've known these players for a long time, and through years of training and development, they've made tremendous progress," he said. "But more importantly, we know that even better players will continue to emerge."
With the U23 Asian Cup over, Puche said attention is already turning to the next phase.
"We have made progress, and we will continue to close the gap on the top teams in Asia. The journey has only just begun," he said. "We will keep working hard. We will analyze every match and every detail, look for ways to improve and keep pushing to be better." ■
