Coach Park Hang-seo: In the second leg, we only need to beat Thailand 1-0 to win the AFF Cup

But I'm sorry that the team didn't get that result. I'm grateful to the players, they tried and tried until the last minute, fighting with the spirit of not giving up."

Coach Park Hang-seo held a press conference after the match. Photo: Hai Hoang

The Korean strategist also did not blame his players, even though many positions made mistakes, especially the defense in the two goals conceded: "I have not watched the match video again to have a thorough analysis of the situations.

The players are playing at home and want to win, so they are under a lot of pressure. Many players left their positions, but not everyone was perfect. We will try to overcome this in the next match."

Coach Park gave his assessment of Thailand's captain Theerathon Bunmathan: "I don't often judge opponents, but Thailand's number 3 is a good player, and the Vietnamese team doesn't lack players of the same level as him.

The Vietnamese football league is gradually improving in quality and we need to gradually improve that. We also need to be responsible for letting Vietnamese players go to Asia and Europe to play. I always think positively and support that."

"I'm not a math genius so I don't know how to calculate the percentage. I can only say that the whole team will try their best. We only need to win 1-0 in Thailand to be champions, why are you so pessimistic?

Every team has its own strengths and weaknesses, not always perfect. It is my responsibility to overcome that," Coach Park Hang-seo reacted strongly to a Korean journalist's question about the percentage of the Vietnamese team's chances of winning the AFF Cup 2022.

Coach Park is also not happy when being compared with his colleague Mano Polking: "I think Polking is a talented coach, maybe he is better than me. But I also do not think I am too inferior to him. I think I have done my best. I do not like this kind of question, this is a necessary respect for the coaching profession, you should not compare like that."

Van Thanh scored the equalizer 2-2 for the Vietnamese team. Photo: Hai Hoang

Finally, Mr. Park talked about his feelings after 5 years of leading Vietnamese football: "This is my last match at My Dinh, I will no longer lead the Vietnamese team. I remember just one week after taking the job in 2017, I had a draw with Afghanistan in the 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers.

My last match was also a draw, which is really a pity. After 5 years, we have had many tournaments. Personally, I also have many friends in Vietnam and am loved by fans. I will never forget this affection. I will always keep these beautiful memories in my heart."

The Vietnamese team's late efforts were rewarded, with Van Thanh's long-range shot equalizing the score at 2-2 in the 88th minute. The two teams will play the second leg of the 2022 AFF Cup final at Thammasat Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on January 16.