CHONGQING, China (AFP) - China coach Vladimir Petrovic has blamed the media for putting too much pressure his squad after they lost 3-2 to regional giants South Korea in their East Asian championship opener.
"Recently, there has been this saying going around for our players that we haven't had any winning result (against South Korea) for 30 years," he said after Saturday's game.
"This really has given our players a little bit pressure."
When reminded by a reporter that he also cited pressure after a 1-1 away draw with Asian champions Iraq in a World Cup qualifier earlier this month, the 52-year Serb hit back: "The pressure did not come from us but from outside."
In the build-up to the competition -- won by South Korea in its inaugural 2003 edition and by China in 2005 -- Chinese media have constantly reminded the former Red Star Belgrade player of the jinx.
Petrovic, who became national coach last October following China's early exit from the Asian Cup, was looking for a good result having revamped his squad following a dismal 4-0 loss to Germany's SV Hamburg in January.
But his East Asian squad is missing Charlton Athletic midfielder Zheng Zhi, who scored the equaliser against Iraq. It included six under-23 players ahead of the home Olympics in Beijing in August.
South Korea also featured what coach Huh Jung-Moo described as a second team without their three English Premier League players.
The match turned out to be a thriller with defender Kwak Tae-Hwi's injury-time goal breaking the 2-2 deadlock. Park Chu-Young opened the scoring on 42 minutes and struck again after two Chinese goals through Zhang Shui and Liu Jian.
"We had aimed to gain experience," Petrovic said. "The biggest thing we have gained from the game is our confidence. We also gave our opponents pressure. We played as we planned."
Chinese captain and center back Li Weifeng told local media: "The most important thing is that we should learn experience for our second World Cup qualifier against Australia on March 26."
China are in an Asian "group of death" which also includes Australia and Asian Games winners Qatar.
