China, 26 Oct 2026 – Cong An Ha Noi FC head coach Alexandre Polking has set his sights on securing the club’s first points in the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 when the Vietnamese champions face Chinese side Shanghai Port FC on October 27.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference on October 26, Polking expressed confidence in his team’s preparations ahead of their third league-stage fixture in Asia’s premier club competition.
The Brazilian coach was joined by midfielder Damià Sabater Tous as both representatives outlined Cong An Ha Noi FC’s determination to produce a competitive performance and secure a positive result against their Chinese opponents.
Polking revealed that the Vietnamese side had arrived in Shanghai two days before the match, allowing the players sufficient time to settle into their surroundings and complete their preparations.
“We arrived here two days ago to ensure the best possible conditions for our players,” Polking said. “The entire team had a very productive training session yesterday, and we feel completely ready.”
Despite the challenges of competing against established Asian clubs, Polking insisted that his players were embracing the experience of participating in the AFC Champions League Elite.
“The AFC Champions League Elite is an entirely new experience for us, but we are genuinely enjoying this journey,” he explained.
“We have come here with a very clear objective: to deliver a strong performance, represent Vietnamese football in the best possible way and fight for our first points in the competition.”
Cong An Ha Noi FC are still searching for their first positive result after suffering defeats in their opening two league-stage fixtures. Their visit to Shanghai therefore represents another opportunity to demonstrate their ability to compete at the highest level of Asian club football.
Polking emphasised that the team had approached the encounter with serious preparation and a strong sense of responsibility, recognising the importance of performing well on the continental stage.
Midfielder Damià Sabater Tous echoed his coach’s determination, expressing pride in representing Vietnamese football while acknowledging the difficulty of the upcoming challenge.
“As the coach said, we are very proud to represent Vietnam in this competition,” Sabater said.
“We know this will be an extremely difficult match, but I believe we performed well in our previous two games. Now the entire team is ready to step onto the pitch and fight for the best possible result against Shanghai Port.”
Although results have not yet gone their way, Cong An Ha Noi FC remain determined to build on their previous performances and turn their efforts into points.
The match against Shanghai Port will test the Vietnamese side’s tactical discipline, concentration and ability to respond under pressure against a strong opponent playing on home soil.
For Polking and his players, securing a result in China would provide an important boost to their confidence and strengthen their ambitions of making an impact in their debut AFC Champions League Elite campaign.
Shanghai Port FC will host Cong An Ha Noi FC at 5:00 p.m. Vietnam time on October 27, with the visitors aiming to claim their first points of the 2026/27 league stage.
VSN/RPT
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