The president of the Chinese Football Association is sure the appointment of Marcello Lippi is just what the national team needs at this time. Cai Zhenhua explained the attraction to hiring the former World Cup winning coach, and discussed the CFA's optimism for the future.

Marcello Lippi (R), newly appointed China's national football team head coach, attends a press conference with Cai Zhenhua, president of the Chinese Football Association (CFA) in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 28, 2016. (Xinhua/Guo Yong)

"His relationship with us is more like a motor and a road. He is an Italian Ferrari, one of the best motors around the world, filled with high technology. The Chinese Football Association will try to build a highway that meets the goals of smooth control, fast driving, and reaching our destination. I can tell lots of stories about motors and roads, but what I'm going to say is that Marcello Lippi reached a consensus with us, that our shared goal is the development of Chinese football. As a result, he accepted the challenge. To achieve this, we must thank Guangzhou Evergrande for their generosity, and we hope we will have a bright future," said Cai Zhenhua.