Aleksandar Jankovic takes part in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Nov 9, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BANGKOK -- The head coach of China's men's national football team Aleksandar Jankovic is brimming with confidence for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers Round 2 as his side visits Thailand in the opening round on Thursday.

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Having managed three wins, two draws and three defeats since his appointment in February, Jankovic is ready to steer China to begin its 13th quest for the World Cup, and the Serbian is never coy on his ambitions for the quadrennial gala.

Naturalized or not naturalized players are all players of China, all these players are motivated and the honor is here. 

Aleksandar Jankovic, Head coach of China's men's national football team

"We are all excited to be in the beginning of a big competition of eight-month, of course I think the Chinese national team is ready for this, all the players should be motivated and excited," he said in the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

"We all have a high and very clear target and of course, everybody wants to win. Everybody wants to make the step towards the World Cup, it's the biggest possible challenge in football, and happy to share this experience with the players," he added.

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China is drawn into Group C with Thailand, South Korea, and Singapore at this stage. Thailand can be seen as a troublemaker for China recently.

However, Jankovic shrugged off the comments claiming China's football is rapidly declining in the last decade.

"I just repeat that we are all very motivated and excited to be here at the opening of the new chapter, I will never make comments on the comments of the others. We all know, inside we are very motivated, we have qualities and values. We are ready to do everything, start the competition well to be at the level of expectations of the whole country," he noted.

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The outsiders noticed that the 51-year-old only called up a few naturalized players in this international break, but he stressed that it makes no difference.

"Naturalized or not naturalized players are all players of China, all these players are motivated and the honor is here."