Ashley Westwood, the head coach of the Hong Kong national soccer team, remains resolute in his commitment to avoid finishing at the bottom of the standings in the 2025 East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship. After experiencing back-to-back defeats—first losing 6-1 to Japan and then 2-0 to South Korea—Westwood is now focusing on the upcoming match against China.
Despite the disappointment in the previous matches, where Hong Kong struggled defensively and faced tough competition from teams ranked significantly higher, Westwood emphasized the importance of learning from these experiences. He acknowledged the skill level of opposing teams, stating that losing to South Korea, currently 23rd in the FIFA rankings, is something that could be anticipated.
As Hong Kong prepares to face China, Westwood is optimistic about modifying his game plan to be more aggressive in pursuit of goals. “Every match presents a new opportunity—we need to focus on our game strategy,” he remarked, underscoring a commitment to improve and adapt. “We won’t head into this game just trying to survive; we want to actively pursue a win.”
His determination is clear as he stated, “We don’t intend to finish the tournament without a point.” With an emphasis on motivation and strategic adjustments, Westwood is encouraging his players to step up and compete fiercely against China. The team’s previous struggles have been hard-fought lessons that they aim to translate into better performance moving forward.
This could be a pivotal moment for Hong Kong’s national team, providing them with the chance to showcase their improvement and resilience against China’s formidable side. The upcoming match could serve as a building block for future successes in the tournament.