"Winning this match definitely wasn't easy for us. I'm especially grateful for the fans' support. The Chinese fans at the stadium and watching the broadcast were an indispensable part of our victory."
Escribá's tone was fairly calm. He seemed to have recovered from his earlier emotion.
"So you believe leaving a powerhouse like Borussia Dortmund to join the not-so-strong China men's national football team was the right decision?"
"Yes, of course!"
"So far, that certainly seems to be the case. I've received unimaginable support here, not only from the Chinese Football Association but also from the China national team's fans."
Though he had only been here for a short time, Escribá's words made one thing clear.
The Spanish coach already felt a strong sense of belonging with the China national team.
"Three straight wins, haha. As I just said, those three straight wins didn't come easily. But we'll remain vigilant."
"You know, we'll be facing a stronger opponent next—Japan."
More than two months was enough time for Escribá to understand the state of Asia's national teams. Naturally, he knew which team in Group B posed the greatest threat to China.
"Mm. Then, what do you have to say about Tang Ye's performance in this match?"
"Compared with the previous two matches, Tang Ye's rating dropped quite a lot this time."
"I think that's perfectly normal. Players aren't machines, and fluctuations in form should be understood. I was once a footballer myself, so I can think from the players' perspective. Mm... Also, Tom's low rating in this match was mainly due to the missed penalty. Setting that penalty aside, I still believe he performed brilliantly."
"He will always be the best."
Escribá flashed a dazzling smile at the camera.
"So you believe Tang Ye missing that penalty was insignificant?"
"At least