Hanoi, 1 October, 2025 – Hanoi Police FC will welcome Tai Po of Hong Kong to Hang Day Stadium on October 2 in their second Group E fixture of the AFC Champions League Two 2025/2026. Ahead of the crucial clash, head coach Mano Polking underlined that only a win will satisfy his side.
“Of course, our highest goal is victory in this match. In the opener against Beijing Guoan we did not play as we wanted and the result was disappointing. If Hanoi Police FC want to go further in this competition, we must win against Tai Po,” Polking stated at the pre-match press conference.
The German-Brazilian tactician gave respect to the visitors, who are reigning contenders in Hong Kong football. “Tai Po are a well-organized team who dominate in their domestic league. I know some of their coaches and assistants; they have excellent players and strong foreign signings. This will be an exciting match. Under the regulations of the AFC Champions League Two, both sides can use unlimited foreign players, so it will be worth watching,” he said.
Polking confirmed several injury concerns for his squad. Defenders Bui Hoang Viet Anh and Adou Minh, along with Vu Van Thanh, are unavailable. Meanwhile, playmaker Nguyen Quang Hai picked up a knock after the recent V.League clash with Nam Dinh. Despite the setbacks, Polking expressed confidence in the depth of his roster: “We have versatile players who can step in. The squad is ready.”
The coach also defended goalkeeper Nguyen Filip, who has been criticized after costly mistakes in recent international and continental matches. “Filip is a high-class goalkeeper. Earlier he did not perform well in some games, but in the last two matches he kept clean sheets. It is unfair to say he is not good. Playing for the national team is always an honor, and Hanoi Police FC have four players in the squad. We must respect the national coach’s choices. With Filip’s improvement, I believe he will soon return to the national team,” Polking added.
On the opposite side, Tai Po head coach Lee Chi Kin set modest goals but highlighted his team’s determination. “We will try our best to achieve the best result possible. After watching videos and statistics, I am very impressed with Quang Hai from Hanoi Police FC. We may play with a compact defense because they are in very strong form at the moment,” he said.
Tai Po are currently leading Group E after defeating Australia’s MacArthur in their opening game, making them the only team with three points. “We cannot control outside opinions that say we are the weakest team in the group. At present we are top, but we can only promise to fight until the last match,” Lee added.
Midfielder Remi Du Jardin echoed his coach’s words: “Every match is an opportunity to gain precious points. Before returning to Hong Kong, we hope to secure at least one point.”
With pressure mounting after a stuttering start, Hanoi Police FC will be eager to claim three points at Hang Day to boost their chances of progressing from Group E.
Dang Long – Hong Phuc
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