Suita, 14 Sep 2026 – Cong An Ha Noi FC head coach Alexandre Polking and striker Nguyen Dinh Bac are determined to secure a positive result against Gamba Osaka in their opening match of the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27.
Polking and Dinh Bac attended the pre-match press conference on September 14 ahead of Cong An Ha Noi FC’s visit to Japan.
“This is a landmark occasion for Vietnamese football, with a club from the country competing in Asia’s premier club competition under its current format for the first time. I hope it will be a wonderful experience for everyone at Cong An Ha Noi FC,” Polking said.
The Brazilian-German coach acknowledged Gamba Osaka’s stature and the quality within their squad. Cong An Ha Noi FC had an opportunity to watch their opponents in person during the recent Osaka derby against Cerezo Osaka.
“We experienced the atmosphere inside the stadium and saw how big this club is,” he added. “Last season, Gamba Osaka defeated Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr on their way to winning the AFC Champions League Two. That was an outstanding achievement.”
However, Polking believes the Japanese side’s recent difficulties could give Cong An Ha Noi FC an opportunity. While Gamba Osaka have struggled for consistency, his players arrive in Japan in confident mood.
“If we can earn a point, or even all three, it would be a fantastic result for Cong An Ha Noi FC and Vietnamese football,” Polking said. “It will certainly be a major challenge, but we are ready to face it.”
The coach also noted that Cong An Ha Noi FC could have faced Gamba Osaka last season had they progressed beyond the AFC Champions League Two round of 16.
Dinh Bac shared his coach’s confidence and insisted the Vietnamese side would approach the competition one match at a time.
“We are fully focused and ready for our first match in Asia’s top club tournament,” the forward said. “We know that we will face very strong opponents, so our priority is to produce our best performance in every game.”
Dinh Bac added that victory would be a meaningful way to celebrate Cong An Ha Noi FC’s 70th anniversary.
“Gamba Osaka won Asia’s second-tier competition last season, but no team can keep winning forever,” he said. “Their passionate home support is one of their biggest strengths. We must concentrate on our own performance and try to secure a positive result away from home.”
Cong An Ha Noi FC will face Gamba Osaka at 5pm Vietnam time on September 15.
VSN/RPT
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