Perrin has no dissatisfaction over players despite defeat

The players had done what they could when facing the host team and there is no dissatisfaction from the coach, head coach of the Chinese national football team Alain Perrin said on Thursday at the press conference after China lost to Australia 0-2 in the 2015 Asian Cup quarterfinal.

The two teams failed to score in the first half. However, Tim Cahill, the Socceroos' 35-year-old striker, managed to break the balance with an acrobatic overhead kick in the 48th minute. In the 65th minute, Cahill consolidated the victory for the Socceroos with a powerful header.

"It was not a problem that your opponent scored first. What's important is how you could follow your own way of playing despite the score," said Perrin.

"The Socceroos had a wonderful performance at their home pitch. Our player, as you can see, had made their best efforts. I have no dissatisfaction whatsoever on them. They've done what they could."

He said every player had made good performance, especially Zhang Linpeng, who played the whole match despite his injury.

Perrin said that the Chinese players were distracted as one of their defenders fell inside the penalty box when Cahill performed his first successful shoot.

After the goal, the Socceroos were very much motivated and the Chinese team had encountered more difficulties in defense.

Cahill is a very talented and capable player, Perrin said, adding when facing a player like him, lost of concentration, even in a short while, will lead to a different result.

Perrin admitted that the players were very disappointed.

"We lost the match, ending our trip at the Asian Cup. We came with hope. But it is what it is," the Frenchman said.

"We know from this match that we still have a lot to do to make our team a better one," he said.