Recently, the Chinese national U23 football team made history by defeating Vietnam 3-0 in the semifinals of the U23 Asian Cup, securing a place in the final and sparking widespread discussion. The team’s success is closely tied to the efforts of their head coach, Antonio.
Antonio is a strict disciplinarian when it comes to team conduct and regulations. Take the team’s preparation in Zhaoqing, Guangdong, for example: players were required to move strictly between two fixed locations—the hotel and the training ground. Although there were appropriate breaks during the preparation period, players had to strictly adhere to the schedule, including meal times, and were not allowed to casually order takeout to their accommodation. As the architect of these rules, Antonio also leads by example.
