Coach Polking is determined to win against Selangor: A fiery battle of wits between CAHN and Kim Pan-gon.
Playing away in Malaysia, Hanoi Police FC aims to secure three points against Selangor to move up the standings in Group A of the Southeast Asian Club Championship tonight.
Tonight (January 28th), Hanoi Police Football Club (CAHN) will face a challenging match away against Selangor (Malaysia) in the Southeast Asian Club Championship. The highlight of this encounter will be the tactical battle between coach Mano Polking and Kim Pan-gon – the former head coach of the Malaysian national team. This is not just an ordinary football match, but a battle for a place in the semi-finals between the two most elite representatives of the region.
Determined to win all three points away from home.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, coach Polking unhesitatingly stated that the sole objective of the Vietnamese team was to secure all three points. The German strategist emphasized the crucial nature of this match: "We know this is an important game. If we want to advance, we need three points. The whole team is fully focused on achieving that."
Notably, despite CAHN having just gone through a long break, the coach affirmed that his players have maintained absolute seriousness. Through high-intensity training sessions and friendly matches, the police team is ready both physically and mentally to face the pressure from the Malaysian crowd.
The question of strength and warrior spirit.
In terms of personnel, CAHN will travel to Malaysia without three key players: Dinh Bac, Ly Duc, and Minh Phuc. These are the players who recently exerted themselves to the fullest with the Vietnam U23 team to win third place at the 2026 Asian Championship. The coaching staff has decided to allow these players to rest to recover their best physical condition.
However, Coach Polking's confidence still rests on the current squad depth with many experienced national team players. Defender Doan Van Hau, one of the team's pillars of morale, affirmed that the entire team carries a fighting spirit not only for the club's colors but also for the pride of Vietnamese fans.
Selangor and Kim Pan-gon's ambitions
On the other side of the pitch, coach Kim Pan-gon also expressed caution but determination. After a series of impressive performances, he aims for Selangor's fifth consecutive victory. The South Korean strategist highly values CAHN's organization and discipline, and declared that he will make the most of his home advantage to impose his playing style and build his own identity.
Group A standings: A narrow margin.
Currently, in Group A, Selangor is temporarily ranked 2nd with 5 points, while CAHN is 4th with 4 points. The difference is only 1 point, making tonight's match essentially an "early final".
| Ranking | Team | Score | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Selangor FC | 5 | +2 |
| 4 | Hanoi Police FC | 4 | +1 |
The group stage is becoming more unpredictable than ever. A win would allow CAHN to directly overtake their opponent and secure a place in the next round, while a draw or a loss would significantly narrow their chances of reaching the semi-finals. The decisive goals of both coaches promise to create an explosive and highly tactical showdown in Malaysia tonight.
