"We were lucky to have a good group, people who understood perfectly what we were doing, with simple and calm explanations that were easily understood," he said. "Out of the 11 finals that we played, we won seven. We did a good job and I'm happy with what I achieved in China."

According to Scolari, Chinese football has improved markedly at all levels since he began his tenure at Guangzhou.

"When we arrived the structure needed some adjustments," he said. "We asked the club for some things that we needed for both the players and the coaching staff. They provided them without any qualms, giving us peace of mind and allowing us to develop. We managed to play in a way that made our adversaries feel like they were facing a great team."

Scolari, who began his managerial career with Centro Sportivo Alagoano in 1982, heaped praise on efforts to develop grassroots football in China and believes the strategy will bear fruit in the near future.

"The progress won't happen overnight but within seven, eight or 10 years, the national team will be the equal of South Korea, Japan or Australia," he added.

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