In this file photo dated May 11, 2016, head coach of Eastern Football club Chan Yuen-ting (center) smiles after a team training session in Hong Kong, China. (PHOTO / AFP)

SYDNEY — Former Chinese Hong Kong footballer and current professional coach, Chan Yuen Ting, has assumed a new role at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup: a member of the 12-strong Technical Study Group (TSG) appointed by FIFA.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Chan conveyed she would treasure this opportunity to observe Asian and international teams' performances closely, learn from pioneering mindsets of women's football powerhouses, and help China stay abreast with the sport's latest developments through technical reports.

Chan went on to acknowledge Europe's entrenched football legacy, whether in terms of the sport's commercial value, training environment, or the coaches' mindsets

As for China's performance at the ninth FIFA Women's World Cup, Chan expressed confidence in the Steel Roses, asserting their promising prospects to advance to the knockout stage, despite their lag behind some top-flight favorites.

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Since 2015, Chan's coaching career has witnessed a slew of accomplishments. She made history as the first female coach to lead a men's professional team to a league title in 2016, an achievement that led to her earning the AFC Women's Coach of the Year award.

In 2019, Chan became the head coach for the Chinese women's U-16 national team, guiding them to a third-place finish at the 2019 AFC U-16 Women's Championship.

Subsequently, she helped the Hainan Qiongzhong secure a spot in the Chinese Women's Football League and began her role as the head coach for the Jiangsu women's football team in 2022.

As the youngest member of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup TSG, 34-year-old Chan already boasts a background in technical analysis for AFC.

"I received the invitation from FIFA early this year. The Women's World Cup actually coincides with some of the Chinese Football Association (CFA) Cup matches. I had to ask for leave from my team. I greatly appreciate the support from the Jiangsu women's football team for my participation in the World Cup tournament," Chan said.

She explained that the expert panel will watch the matches on-site and will be assisted by a team of over 50 data analysis experts.

"We will meld our field observations with the data to draft the technical reports," said Chan. "This is a challenge, but also a valuable learning opportunity for me. I'm eager to observe the world's top-ranked teams' field performance and the performance of Asian teams. I want to identify where the gap lies."

In Chan's perspective, a clear divide exists between Asian teams and the dominant US and European powerhouses.

"No Asian teams made it to the last eight in the 2019 Women's World Cup held in France," Chan observed. "Women's football in Europe is developing rapidly. For instance, in England, a women's Super League match draws about 500,000 to 600,000 spectators, currently an unattainable figure for any Asian match."

Chan went on to acknowledge Europe's entrenched football legacy, whether in terms of the sport's commercial value, training environment, or the coaches' mindsets.

"Over the past four years, many Asian teams have exerted enormous effort to narrow the gap. The Chinese team travelled overseas to play many matches, which was instrumental," said Chan.

"There is still a long journey ahead with changes required in various aspects. Every Asian team is trying to catch up. I believe China has an advantage with decades of developing women's football," she added.

Chan remains optimistic about the Steel Roses' outcome at this year's FIFA Women's World Cup.

"I'm confident in our national team's chances to progress to the knockout phase. They've prepared extensively for the tournament. I hope their hard work yield results, and they can advance beyond the group stage, even reaching the quarterfinals," Chan said.

She underscored that learning to adjust their mentality and manage pressure is a vital task for the Chinese players.

Speaking of the other teams in Group D, Chan noted that England, although powerful, saw several key players sustain injuries ahead of the World Cup, introducing uncertainties into the Lionesses' performance. Denmark, having made impressive progress in recent years, would largely have their head-to-head result with China decided by their form on the game day.

"I've watched some of Haiti's matches. They play aggressively, albeit not very technically. They consistently penetrate the backline with solid physical strength. Haiti is not an easy opponent for Asian teams to handle, which will pose a test to China's defense," Chan remarked.

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After completing her role at the TSG, Chan plans to share her acquired knowledge from the Women's World Cup with her coaching peers and players in China.

"Only by broadening our perspective can we fully grasp the physical and technical demands of modern football. Then, we can progressively make changes, from talent training, to professional league development, and to the building of the national team," Chan said.

"Since beginning my coaching role with the Jiangsu women's football team, I've discovered many players with great potential. I believe that if we concentrate on reforms in key areas, such as coach and talent training programs, database establishment, and league improvement, Chinese women's football will see tangible progress," Chan said.