Interview: New coach Bini confident of inspiring Chinese women's soccer to new high

Head coach Bruno Bini has seen huge potential in his newly takeover Chinese women's soccer team and felt confident of restoring the squad's glamor within his four-year term.

"During my short stay in China late last month, I met the players and staff, watched their friendlies against Spain, and was convinced that they are very disciplined and smoothly organized with great teamwork," said Bini in an interview with Xinhua here on Sunday before his departure from Paris.

The 60-year-old Frenchman, who signed a four-year contract with the Chinese Football Associations on September 16 to succeed Hao Wei, will officially carry out his full duty in Beijing this Tuesday.

Bini, having steered the French women's team to a fourth finish at the 2011 World Cup as well as the 2012 London Olympic Games, is the 15th head coach of the Chinese women's side and third foreigner for that post after Marika Komanski-Lyfors and Elisabeth Loisel.

He has been highly expected to bring a new look to the young rosters, who this summer reached the very first quarterfinals of World Cup in eight years but were still reckoned underdogs in Asia's qualifications for Rio 2016.

"It's a satisfying result of reaching the quarters in a women's World Cup, especially for a team who just stands around fourth in Asia and 15th in the world," said Bini.

With less than one year to go before the Rio Olympics and the Asian qualifications to start in February, the Frenchman foresaw an uphill battle for China in vying for the two tickets on offer against World Cup runners-up Japan and world No. 9 Australia.

"Theoretically, the two tickets for Asia are out of reach for China as we rank fourth in the continental and may fall to fifth," he said. "However, I won't say that we don't stand a chance."

"I see great potentials in our very talented players. The girls have endurance, running for a long time and everywhere, and the team has a lot of hearts, which is very well organized.

"Besides, I know the competition very well and my players, my staff and I are very determined to try out utmost,"

In Bini's opinions, the group stage competitions of 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro are not as difficult as the Asian qualifications.

"For us, the toughest job is to earn one of the two berths disputed to Asia," he said.

The Frenchman, who grew into a player and coach in southern Nancy, told Xinhua that he's even dreaming big after having decided to take the charge of the Chinese team.

"When I watched the World Cup earlier this year and followed the Chinese team's advancing, I noticed that they are averaging 22 years and a half. They are so young!" he said. "It's a big big advantage."

"Just imagine it. In four years, they turned around 26-27 years, the best age for girls to play football, and they got mature, experienced and sophisticated. How strong a team it will be!"

"Of course I'd like to see a Chinese squad, as strong as the Steel Roses in 1990s, back on stage under my helm," added Bini. "Also, I want to coach a team strong enough to inspire more Chinese girls. It's up to us to make people dream of that." Endit