Kula Lumpur, 15 August 2026 – Malaysia head coach Tan Cheng Hoe has acknowledged Vietnam’s strength and experience ahead of the ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinal, but remains confident his young squad can produce a positive result in the first leg on home soil.
Malaysia will host Vietnam at 20:00 on August 16, with Tan hoping the support of the home crowd can provide an important boost before the return leg in Hanoi.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, the Malaysian coach expressed his satisfaction at guiding the Harimau Malaya into the last four and thanked supporters for standing behind the team throughout the tournament.
“I am happy that the team has qualified for the semifinals and will face Vietnam tomorrow. I would like to thank the fans who have always supported us. Their support gives us motivation to perform well in the first leg of the semifinal.”
Tan Cheng Hoe: Malaysia Must Believe in Themselves
Tan made no attempt to play down the challenge posed by Vietnam, describing Kim Sang-sik’s side as a strong and experienced opponent.
Malaysia, meanwhile, will enter the match without several important players. Despite those absences, Tan believes the combination of experienced figures and emerging youngsters in his squad can still compete effectively.
“Vietnam are a strong and experienced team. Malaysia, meanwhile, do not have all of our best players available. Even so, we still have experienced players as well as young talents. We need to stay focused and believe in ourselves rather than concentrating too much on Vietnam. We have home advantage, so we will do our best.”
Malaysia’s preparations have been complicated by a growing list of unavailable players. Several squad members are struggling with injuries, while Wan Kuzain has returned to the United States to rejoin his club.
The midfield has been particularly affected, leaving Tan with difficult decisions ahead of the semifinal. However, the Malaysian coach believes the situation also presents an opportunity for younger players to prove themselves on the international stage.
“It is not an easy situation for the Malaysia national team at the moment. We have injured players and are short of personnel. As head coach, I will try to find the best possible solution. At the same time, this is an opportunity for our young players to represent the national team and gain valuable experience.”
Malaysia Wary of Quang Hai and Vietnam’s Quality
Tan also openly acknowledged his difficult record against Vietnam and believes the current Vietnamese side remain a formidable opponent under Kim Sang-sik.
Among the players Malaysia will need to monitor closely is captain Nguyen Quang Hai, whose creativity and experience could play an important role in the semifinal.
“I do not have a good head-to-head record against Vietnam. They are currently a strong team with a very good coach. Malaysia must be alert to Vietnam’s players, including Quang Hai. Of course, I hope we will receive tremendous support from our home fans against Vietnam.”
Despite the personnel problems, Tan said morale within the Malaysian camp remains high.
“The spirit of the Malaysian players is very good at the moment. We are a young team and will work hard to achieve a positive result at home because after this match, we still have to travel to Hanoi for the second leg.”
Shamsul: Malaysia Have Nothing to Fear
Malaysia defender Shamsul joined Tan at the press conference and made clear that the hosts are determined to challenge Vietnam despite entering the tie as underdogs.
“Tomorrow is a big match. We will give everything we have to make the Vietnamese players disappointed. We are the underdogs, but we will try to win the first leg. Of course, we really want to reach the final. Malaysia cannot afford to lose at home. At the very least, a draw could give us motivation going into the second leg in Hanoi.”
Shamsul also emphasized the importance of Malaysia’s collective spirit. While recognizing Vietnam’s quality, he believes the hosts must approach the semifinal without fear.
“We have trained together and fought together. The important thing is for the Malaysian players to stay focused and enjoy the match. Every player is playing for the team. Nothing is impossible in football. We will do everything we can to achieve our objectives, even though Vietnam are a very strong opponent.”
With Malaysia dealing with significant absences and Vietnam arriving with an impressive unbeaten run, the hosts may enter the semifinal as underdogs. However, Tan and his players are determined to make home advantage count and give themselves the strongest possible platform before the decisive second leg in Hanoi.
VSN/RPT
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