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Some players reach career best physical conditions after hard training, says China coach

January 20, 2020

GUANGZHOU, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese men's national football team head coach Li Tie said on Monday that some of his players reached career best physical conditions after two week's intensive training.

The Chinese team is preparing for their next Asian World Cup qualifier against the Maldives under the guidance of Li Tie who earlier this month was appointed as the replacement of Marcello Lippi.

[caption id="attachment_43627" align="alignnone" width="570"] Head coach of the Chinese men's football team Li Tie (C) instructs players during a training session in Foshan, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)[/caption]

Li, who was tasked with reviving China's World Cup campaign, was satisfied with his players' attitude during the training camp.

"To be honest, since the training camp began, it has been very demanding. We had some days with three training sessions," said the former Chinese international defender.

"All the players tried their best and tests showed some of them have reached career best physical conditions," Li said.

"My players formed good habits during the training camp, and around 10 or 11 o'clock at night they fell asleep," he said.

Lippi resigned following China's 2-1 away loss to Syria on November 14, 2019. China, who sit second place in the five-team Group A with seven points from four games, eight points behind group leaders Syria, will face the Maldives at home on March 26. ■