Chinese women's team's potential attracts me: new coach Bruno Bini

Chinese women's soccer team new head coach Bruno Bini. [Photo/CFP]

XI'AN, China - Chinese women's soccer team new head coach Bruno Bini was presented to the media officially in a news conference on Friday.

The 60-year-old Frenchman replaces Hao Wei to become the third foreign coach hired for the Chinese women's team after Marika Komanski-Lyfors and Elisabeth Loisel.

Bini, who steered the French women's team to a fourth finish at the 2011 World Cup as well as the 2012 London Olympic Games, admitted that he had also received offers from other teams, but he eventually chose to take over the Chinese team.

"I was also invited by some other teams, which offered even higher salaries, but I refused, because I don't think those teams can have good performances in future," he said.

"I was attracted by the potential of the team."

Bini flew to Beijing on Tuesday before traveling to Shaanxi on Thursday.

"It is my third time coming to China. I need to get used to the new environment as quickly as possible and I think my life will be beautiful here," he said.

"China is a country far from my homeland, and I don't speak Chinese, but there is no problem as I can use soccer language to communicate with the players."

Bini was introduced to his team earlier Friday. "I told them my secret of success is hard-working," he said.

With less than one year to go before the Rio Olympics, Bini foresees a tough battle ahead.

"We don't have much time preparing for the Olympic qualifiers. We rank fourth in Asia and may fall to fifth, but there are only two tickets for Asia," he said. "Our aim is to do our best to qualify. I know the competition very well and I can't tell you we can make it, but we will try our utmost."

Bini said he won't make many changes to the squad before he watches as many matches as he can.

"I cannot make many changes as I don't know the team enough," he said. "My assistant and I will go to watch as many matches as we can, and we are going to talk to the technical staff to know more about our team."

The Chinese women's team reached the quarterfinal of the women's World Cup earlier this year, and Bini said all the players didn't fully show their capability.

"I watched the World Cup and I found that the starting 11 of the Chinese team remained the same in four matches out of five. I will try to make some improvement," he said.