\n<\/p>\n
There is still some time before the Asian Cup kicks off in Saudi Arabia in January 2027.<\/p>\n
When asked how he would manage the team in the lead-up to the tournament so they can work well together, understand one another\u2019s play and trust him as a coach, Lee said that it\u2019s \u201cimpossible\u201d to achieve all of the above.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause we see the tip of the iceberg, which is the national team, but the national team is out there as a consequence of everybody’s efforts in Singapore,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
For instance, the players spend more time with their football clubs than with the national team.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo it’s everybody coming together, then we will have a better national team,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut when they do come on board, spend time with us, then my job is to reduce as many question marks as possible, so that we’re on the same page.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lee was also asked about the youth development pipeline in Singapore football.<\/p>\n
Lee said that he has seen enough evidence at youth level to believe that there will be \u201cmore players coming through\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it’s not going to be instant. It will take time, right? It will always take time. I know that’s what everybody doesn’t want to hear, because everybody wants something yesterday,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike it or not, but this is a developmental process, and if we get more things right in this process, then hopefully more will come through.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that Singapore is further challenged by its relatively small size and population.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow can we maximise it? How can we get even more through? Those are the questions that we’re trying to answer every single day,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
His advice for young players? To understand why they want to pursue the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you truly understand your why and you know what you want to get to, then you will go through (anything) to get there. You will overcome everything that’s thrown at you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n