HONG KONG, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Marcello Lippi is amazing and China need be patient in football development, said German football club Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke here on Saturday.
"Lippi is a fantastic coach, he has lots of experience in club football and national teams. He is very successful," Watzke said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.
Italian Lippi-coached China defeated the Philippines 2-0 in an international friendly match on Friday.
"Lippi is one of the most experienced coaches in the world. I think he can help China's football a lot," Watzke added.
However, in his opinion, having a good coach is not enough for China's football development.
"But coach is not the only question for football development. Most important is having more young players in China and the management of the football association, and also the development of professional clubs."
Watzke believes that football development is a long way.
"It is not so easy for China, for Chinese football to go top. Actually, it is very difficult. You need lots of experience. You need lots of good players. You must give it time."
Watzke suggested that China's football association must have its own young player training system.
"For the Chinese football association, they must have 6, 7, 8 years old players to play football, not only table tennis or other sports. You must concentrate on homelands to look after talents. It is not so easy. It is difficult, but I think it is the only way."
For Chinese football clubs, Watzke said that they must also pay more attention to training on young talents.
"It is very important for Chinese clubs to develop players for themselves. First period development is clear that you must buy players, spending smart money in doing this. Secondly, it is very very important that you must have your own young players, home ground players."
Even it is not easy, Watzke believes that China can make some achievements in a long run.
"But you must have patients in football. I have confidence that Chinese football must develop in 10 or 20 years. Possibly, you will like South Korea, winning the fourth place in the World Cup, or even win the World Cup," he added.
