China coach Arie Haan has warned his players against over-confidence following their crushing 5-0 victory over Indonesia at the Asian Cup.
The hosts overpowered Indonesia in Beijing on Wednesday to seize control of Group A and need only a point against Qatar on Sunday in their last game to reach the quarter-finals.
"Yes, the result was good for their confidence but the important thing now is not to get carried away," said Haan, a member of the great Dutch team of the 1970s that lost in two World Cup finals.
"We played one good match and beat Indonesia but maybe when you look at the result it is not so strange. We are China and we should expect to beat teams like Indonesia.
"The feel-good factor is important but we must be careful."
Haan, whose side drew their first game 2-2 against Bahrain, has an injury worry over talisman striker Hao Haidong, who has a badly swollen ankle and looks likely to miss the Qatar match.
But China, who have never won the Asian Cup, have been boosted by the form of German-based midfielder Shao Jiayi, who scored two superb goals against Indonesia.
The 1860 Munich player ruptured knee ligaments last August and has suffered several setbacks in regaining fitness this season.
"The game will have helped his confidence. He looks close to his best form again," Haan said.
"But we must all now concentrate on the next game. I don't want the players to think they are already in the quarter-finals. That's the danger."
© 2024 Rediff.com -