(Qatar World Cup) Walking into Milu's Home: Serbian Elderly Chinese Love

　　China News Agency, Doha, November 25th, title: Walking into Milu’s home: Serbian elderly’s love for China

　　China News Agency reporter Wang Xi

　　Walking into the home of former Chinese men's football coach and "magic coach" Bora Milutinovic in Qatar, a string of red lanterns hanging on the gate is particularly conspicuous.

The Serbian old man who had been waiting for a long time hurriedly welcomed the guests into the house, and said as he walked, "My old Chinese friends are here."

　　In the small living room, Chinese elements such as Dongyang wood carvings, Chinese newspaper clippings, and Ming-style window lattices can be found everywhere, telling the story of the owner's deep relationship with China.

While speaking, Milu took a photo with the Chinese team members in 2002 and showed it to the reporter. The old man didn't say anything, but his eyes were filled with emotion.

　　The 78-year-old Milu was a little tired sitting on the sofa.

Last night he went to watch the match between Brazil and Serbia and didn't come home until three o'clock in the morning.

But he still got up early today to make a new game watching plan, and the staff around him tried to dissuade him repeatedly, but Milu remained unmoved, hoping to watch as many games as possible.

　　He told reporters that since the start of the World Cup, he has almost never lost every game. Teams such as Canada and Denmark have left a deep impression on him.

He felt that the biggest surprise was the Japanese team. "It was no accident and unpopularity that they beat the German team. They provided valuable reference for Asian football."

　　When it comes to young players, Milou expressed his admiration for the French team Mbappé, "It can be said that he is the leader of the younger generation."

　　He picked up a stack of participating team information and schedules on the coffee table and showed them to the reporter, and he did not forget to show the teams he focused on: Serbia, Mexico, the United States, Costa Rica, etc.

Either the home country team, or the national team that I have coached, "I have been paying attention to these teams, they all have very good players, and the progress over the years is also obvious."

　　However, Milu also has regrets.

The Chinese team he once coached has missed the World Cup finals since 2002. This makes the Serbian old man who has always missed China and Chinese football feel a little bit brooding.

　　Prior to this, Milu had expressed more than once that he was willing to take over the coach of the Chinese team again.

Now facing this problem again, Milu did not deny it. He told reporters that Chinese football must first have a clear goal, then plan a clear path, and figure out what specific actions will be taken to achieve the goal, while maintaining a good mentality and enough patience, so that it is possible to narrow the strength gap with other teams as soon as possible.

　　In his view, in order to be competent as the coach of the Chinese team, one must have vision and experience, and at the same time understand what the players think.

　　"Of course, the most important thing is your attitude, because attitude determines everything." Milu smiled and asked everyone: "Which action do you think is the most important on the football field?"

　　Facing the old man's question, the people present looked at each other for a while, not knowing how to answer.

After pondering for a while, Milu replied by himself: "It's the next move."

　　He led a few young players who came to ask for advice to play football in his living room to demonstrate the importance of "the next move", "Keep focused, but also relax physically and mentally, which determines the height a player can reach. If I'm the manager and that's something I have to instill in the players."

　　On the occasion of parting, the old man took a pack of World Cup-themed fridge magnets specially prepared by him from the house and gave them to the guests as souvenirs.

He patted the reporter on the shoulder and said: "Seeing you reminds me of China and my old friends." (End)