CHONGQING, CHINA: China national team head coach Shao Jiayi has urged his players to approach their upcoming friendly against the Maldives with full concentration, recalling a difficult World Cup qualifying encounter between the two nations 25 years ago.
Shao Jiayi & player, Liu Dianzuo attended the pre-match press conference held on the afternoon of 23 September at Chongqing Longxing Football Stadium, ahead of the Chinese national team’s match against the Maldives in the 2026 China Team Chongqing International Football Invitational Tournament.
During the press conference, Shao praised Chongqing’s support for the tournament and expressed his satisfaction with the condition of the stadium. He also outlined the team’s preparation, saying China began training in Wuhan on 12 September and completed a short but demanding preparation cycle built around the four matches scheduled as part of the invitational tournament.
According to Shao, training intensity has been considerable, with the coaching staff focused on preparing the team while managing the demands of the tournament schedule.
The coach said China hopes to deliver an exciting performance for supporters in Chongqing. He also confirmed that the team plans to provide more young players with playing opportunities in the opening match against the Maldives, allowing the coaching staff to evaluate emerging talent and assess their readiness at international level.
Shao Recalls Difficult Maldives Qualifier
Speaking about the match against the Maldives on the evening of 24 September, Shao Jiayi reflected on his own experience facing the Maldivian national team approximately 25 years ago.
Shao recalled being part of the Chinese team that travelled to the Maldives for a World Cup qualifier. He described the match as extremely difficult, noting that the two teams were level at 0–0 at halftime before China eventually secured a narrow 1–0 victory.
Although Shao acknowledged that the Maldives is not considered a strong opponent, he stressed that China cannot afford to approach the match without the necessary focus and preparation.
He warned that a relaxed approach could make it difficult for China to achieve the desired result, emphasising the importance of taking the match seriously from the beginning.
Shao also addressed the impact of the last-minute change of opponent on the team’s preparations. While admitting that the change had affected the planning process, he described such situations as a normal part of professional football and said the coaching staff had already taken steps to address the issue.
He called on the entire team to remain focused and fully committed to the match.
Liu Dianzuo Highlights Team’s Preparation
The press conference also marked Liu Dianzuo’s first pre-match media appearance as a member of the national team’s press conference panel.
Speaking about China’s preparations, Liu said the players had completed thorough work in tactical organisation, technical development and physical conditioning under the guidance of the coaching staff.
He expressed confidence in the team’s preparation and said the players were looking forward to delivering a high-quality performance in front of the Chongqing supporters.
Liu was also asked about the men’s football competition at the Asian Games. He said the national team players were following the Asian Games team’s matches and offered his best wishes to the squad, hoping they would achieve positive results in the tournament.
Player Welfare and Asian Cup Preparation
Shao Jiayi also discussed the demands of the invitational tournament’s schedule and the importance of managing player health.
The coach admitted that this is the first time the team has faced a period of this nature, with multiple matches requiring careful consideration of player workload and recovery.
Following the tournament, the players will return to their respective clubs to continue competing in league matches. Shao said the coaching staff would seek to balance the pursuit of positive results with the need to give more players valuable match experience.
He added that the series of friendly matches would also be used to advance China’s preparations for the upcoming Asian Cup.
As China prepares to face the Maldives in Chongqing, Shao Jiayi’s comments underline the team’s focus on maintaining discipline, evaluating young talent and using the international window to strengthen preparations for future competitions.
