Coach Kim Sang-sik raised the issue of Vietnam's 45-minute match.

In an interview with Sport Seoul, coach Kim Sang-sik made candid comments about Vietnamese football: playing habits mean the actual playing time is only about 45 minutes per match, training culture needs to be tightened, and the team structure needs to be rebalanced after a period of rapid rejuvenation. He chooses to convey intuitive tactics and requires continuous high-intensity training to improve fitness, concentration and cohesion.

45 minutes of rolling ball and a change of habits required

Coach Kim Sang-sik said one prominent problem was the habit of reacting after falling or colliding. He said players often did not get up immediately, tending to wait for a teammate to pass the ball or someone to bring water before rejoining. When he ran internal statistics, he noted that the actual time the ball was rolling was only about 45 minutes per game — a figure that showed the pace and continuity of play were not up to the desired level.

From there, Coach Kim asked the whole team to eliminate this habit, increase reaction speed and maintain a state of readiness in every phase of the ball. The goal was to increase the time the ball was in play, thereby improving the team's overall tempo and pressure.

Restore balance after a period of rapid rejuvenation

When taking over the team, Coach Kim spent time analyzing the previous stages: the period under Coach Park Hang-seo and the decline of his predecessor. From this assessment, he realized that the bottleneck was the rejuvenation process happening too quickly, breaking the connection in the playing style. Many pillars that had been nurtured before were no longer valued, the team was unbalanced in experience and operating rhythm.

Coach Kim's approach is to restore stability through rebalancing the force: reconnecting the experienced core with the next generation, thereby creating a foundation for the system to operate more smoothly.

Visual training: pressing signals and diagram transfers

Tactically, Coach Kim uses a simpler, more intuitive communication method than in a highly tactical environment like Jeonbuk. He clearly defines the signals: using a handkerchief to signal pressing, holding up a tactical board to signal the change of formation from 5-4-1 to 5-3-2. The goal is to help players receive and execute coherently the changes in the rhythm of the game, limiting the delay when changing status.

This approach cuts out the middleman, keeps the message fast and consistent, and fits the “simple but effective” requirement in a context where tactical discipline needs to be reinforced.

70-90 minute intensity: do few exercises, but practice a lot

In terms of physical preparation and concentration, Coach Kim said he maintains a 70 to 90 minute session, but requires high intensity throughout. Instead of extending the time, he emphasizes the quality of each minute on the training ground, consistent with the goal of increasing the time the ball is in play during matches.

By increasing intensity and eliminating the habit of slowing down, the team hopes to improve endurance, reflexes and concentration — the foundations for effective pressing and the ability to maintain tactical structure under pressure.

Professional highlights from coach Kim Sang-sik's speech

Message of faith and conditions to go far

Concluding the conversation, Coach Kim Sang-sik expressed his belief in the potential of Vietnamese football. However, according to him, to go further, the team needs to start with the smallest changes: discipline in playing habits, training culture, then clarity in tactical communication and personnel structure. When the foundation bricks are in place, tactical adjustments will be fully effective.