Chinese calm about Asian soccer accolades(2)

Zheng Zhi (R) of China receives his trophy from AFC President Shaikh Salman at the AFC Player of the Year ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Nov. 26, 2013. (Xinhua/Chong Voon Chung)

Former CFA president Wei Di said the way Evergrande runs the game can't be used in Chinese soccer.

"Evergrande mode can not be copied by Chinese soccer," he said. "Few people are as bold as Xu Jiayin."

Evergrande ended China's long run without a continental title on Nov. 9, giving hopes that Chinese soccer was actually improving.

Just over a week later, a goalless draw in the Asian Cup put the stark reality right in front of Chinese fans.

The Chinese team tied 0-0 with already-qualified Saudi Arabia in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province.

China, on eight points against Saudi Arabia's 13, needs to slug it out with Iraq, third with six points, next March.

Though fans admitted that Chinese players have tried their best in the game, web users described the team's performance as "a headless chicken running everywhere".

Although Lippi hailed the Champions League victory as "a kind of confirmation to the football level of the whole country", it does not change the fact that China remains in ninth place in Asia and constantly struggles around 100 in the world rankings.

Just as Lin Xiaohua, a CFA vice president, said on Tuesday's AFC gala, Chinese soccer has a long, long way to go.

Zheng Zhi awarded AFC Player of the Year

China's captain Zheng Zhi was awarded AFC Player of the Year on Tuesday as the playmaker, also the skipper of the triple Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande, inspired the club to its first AFC Champions League title on Nov. 11.