Now unbeaten in eight matches, China will look to maintain that run when it kicks off its tournament against Saudi Arabia on Saturday in Brisbane.
TWG: Alain, this is one of the most open Asian Cups in memory: who do you see as the favourites for the tournament?
AP: For me, there are three favourites - Korea Republic, Japan and Iran. They are a little over the other teams, but not far.
Japan and Korea you know what they can do and Iran have big experience, big players and they played very well in the World Cup so every time they are dangerous.
They can change their style because at the World Cup for Asian nations it’s difficult but in Asia they are physically ready with good technique and experienced players so they are a strong team.
TWG: And for China?
AP: Our target is to progress from the group stage – it’s not easy, I think Uzbekistan will be the first one and Saudi Arabia are an experienced team and in the qualification we were in the same group and they finished first and we finished third behind Iraq.
That meant we were in Pot 3 for the draw so it means again we need to compete with Saudi Arabia to qualify for the next round so it will be difficult but we worked a lot over six months with a new group and with good spirit so I expect to fill the gap between the teams.
After that it’s football because OK you can make a mistake and anything can happen in a game but on the pitch I want to fill the gap.
TWG: Many nations, China included, have opted for young squads here with an eye for the future. Is that a risky strategy when you are looking to win the Asian Cup?
AP: It’s true but you see even nations like Iraq keep a player such as Younis Mahmoud to balance things so it’s similar with us; even for new players, young players, it’s better to have a good example because for competition you need to talk with the players and experienced players to prepare for the future.
It's difficult to say that now OK because we have finished one competition we can change all the players – it’s difficult to make the transition and keep the same level. Because if I change all 23 at the same time it’s a problem so you need to choose which ones to keep to help the young improve their level. So they need a special spirit and to have good leaders and to give experience and lead.
If you consider my team I have not so many players over 28, I think just two or three because OK the World Cup is in four years but the qualification starts very soon and if you want to play the next World Cup you have to win the next games.
So the target is not to prepare the team for the next four years and say OK I play young players or whatever because if you are not qualified you don’t go. The first games in qualification are very important so it means we have to find a competitive squad and renew step-by-step and year-by-year.
TWG: There were a few controversial omissions from your squad, the central defender Feng Xiaoting the most notable amongst them. Was there a story behind his omission?
AP: It was a question of being fit right now because we have the problem of having to stop the local competition in early November so the players had three or four weeks' holidays and then they came for a camp on 7 December to be ready and prepare a little bit and during this camp I saw he’s not ready and I was disappointed.
He’s a big player for me – at a big club (Guangzhou Evergrande) and it was a surprise for me because sure in my mind when I start the camp he’s in my list but if I consider how he works during the two weeks and if he’s fit … so it was difficult to take him and I chose someone for this tournament and maybe in three months he will come back or I’ll take another one.
TWG: How difficult has the preparation been given the long time before the domestic competition, where all the players are based, and the start of the Asian Cup?
AP: In December we worked very hard when they came back from holidays and they had a small break ... we made a small camp and had two friendly games.
Then we had 10 days' rest and after they came back again so we needed to refresh physically so even though occasionally we are doing double sessions here it’s not always intense; sometimes technical sessions to improve those abilities and work on set pieces or special things because when we are in camp we have time and I have to use it well.
TWG: When you are building your squad is it a case of fitting players into the structure or do you adept to their qualities and strengths?
AP: I had to adapt to the players and their qualities but for this competition I have time; normally in the international break it's maybe 10 days and two games that means five trainings which is not enough time to work especially with the new squad but for this competition because of the league finishing in November I had more time – in December we had three weeks and now two weeks in Australia so for me it’s good to prepare the team.
They have main positions but the game for me is interactive and we need to consider the weaknesses and the strengths of the opponents and try to build from the back to control the game.
So my philosophy every time - and it’s good for China because we don’t have the big player able to control the game by himself - so we need to consider the spirit of the team and to play as a team.
TWG: One of those young players though who is maybe capable of changing things is Wu Lei – how do you rate him at this stage of his development?
AP: Wu Lei is very young and not enough experience to control the game by himself; he has big talent and is a good player that can make a lot of things but not really with the experience like the other players.
TWG: Finally, Alain, you’re in charge of the world’s largest nation and a country that’s always viewed as a ‘sleeping giant’ in football terms – do you feel this weight of pressure and expectation?
AP: Yeah, sure, yes! But I think they chose my name because I worked with an academy before and I’m able to improve the level of the players, especially the young players because in China they have no academies really, no amateur clubs, no football structure.
Although it’s a big country in football terms the number of players and trainers is very poor.
Even small countries in the Gulf have more so they want to develop the structure of football now because they have no clubs in China.
