Kuala Lumpur, 9 June, 2025 – On the morning of June 9, during the pre-match press conference ahead of Vietnam’s clash with Malaysia in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, head coach Kim Sang Sik emphasized the importance and difficulty of the upcoming match.
“This is a very important game, and it will be a tough challenge for us,” said the South Korean coach. “Vietnam must capitalize on our strengths and play with the highest collective spirit. Only with unity and determination can we hope to earn points against Malaysia.”
When asked about the opponent’s squad, Kim acknowledged the uncertainty posed by Malaysia’s recent changes. “From what I’ve gathered, Malaysia has brought in five new players, and 18 out of their 30-man squad are of foreign origin. This makes it more difficult for us, as we lack detailed information on these new faces. However, we are fully focused on our own preparations to be ready for the match.”
One reporter posed a particularly challenging question: “If you don’t have much information on Malaysia, how will you adapt? And given Vietnam’s strong head-to-head record, would any result other than a win be considered a failure?”
Coach Kim responded calmly and confidently: “Football is always full of challenges, even when we do not have complete knowledge about our opponents. Ultimately, the outcome will depend on our performance. Vietnam has done well historically against Malaysia, and even players like Duy Manh here have plenty of experience. Our destiny is in our own hands. I try to stay positive and not burden myself with pressure from past records. We are fully focused in every training session and will carry that mentality into the game.”
Defender Do Duy Manh, who accompanied the coach at the press conference, echoed this sentiment: “This will be a difficult match, but we have prepared carefully and have a well-thought-out game plan. The entire team will strictly follow the tactics set by the coaching staff.”
Duy Manh also noted the transformation of the Malaysian side: “Their team is very different now—from the coach to the players. They have many high-quality players of foreign descent. It’s a real challenge, but we have our own goals and determination. We’ll give it everything we have.”
He concluded with a reminder of football’s unpredictability: “No one knows what will happen until the match is over. You can’t even be sure what you’ll eat tomorrow. So we need to stay focused for the full 90 minutes.”
The Vietnam national team will face Malaysia on the evening of June 10 at Bukit Jalil Stadium in a crucial match that could define their path to the 2027 Asian Cup finals.
Hong Phuc
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