China coach Ante Milicic acknowledged that his side were tested by a determined Bangladesh team in their tournament opener.

The China women's national football team boss said his players had to remain patient against a well-organised and energetic opponent.

“Bangladesh were very disciplined and compact,” Milicic said. “They defended well and were dangerous on the counterattack. For a debut team, they showed good structure.”

He admitted that breaking down Bangladesh’s defensive shape required persistence and quality in key moments.

“In tournaments like this, the first match is never easy,” he said. “Credit to Bangladesh — they made it competitive and worked very hard.”

Milicic also noted the youthful energy of the South Asian side, saying their movement and pressing created challenges for his team at times.

“They have young players with enthusiasm and pace. They didn’t make it simple for us,” he added.

While satisfied with his team’s overall control, Milicic stressed there is room for improvement as the competition progresses.

“We achieved what we needed, but there are areas we can do better. We respect every opponent in this tournament.”

China will now shift focus to their next fixture, aware that stronger tests lie ahead — and mindful of the fighting spirit shown by Bangladesh on their debut stage.