Malaysia head coach ready to play offensive and afraid of Vietnam's counterattack

Two goals by Huy Hung and Duc Huy helped the Vietnamese team draw 2-2 in Malaysia in the first leg of the 2018 AFF Cup final. This result, especially the two away goals, brought a significant advantage to coach Park Hang-seo and his team before the second leg at My Dinh tomorrow, December 15.

Before the second leg, coach Tan Cheng Hoe said: "We are ready for the second leg, hoping that the Malaysian players will play with full energy in tomorrow's match. We are at a disadvantage when losing 2 goals at home, but we are very confident and will try to make up for it. The feeling of playing at Vietnam's home ground will be very different from Bukit Jalil, but I think our players will enjoy it by playing their best."

Coach Tan Chang Hoe is wary of Vietnam's counterattacks. Photo: Trung Kien

"This return leg will be very different with high intensity and we need to focus on preventing Vietnam from playing defensive counter-attacks. Malaysian players are not under much pressure and have a good feeling when entering the match. We will continue to play like in the group stage, still maintaining the attacking style and controlling the ball. Malaysia will continue that football philosophy for the final and promote that to score a goal against Vietnam at My Dinh Stadium," coach Tan Cheng Hoe added.

The Malaysian national team goalkeeper had to pick the ball out of the net twice in the first leg. Photo: Trung Kien

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Mohd Farizal Marlias confirmed that the whole team is ready as there are no injuries in the squad and there is encouragement from Malaysian fans. "We lost to Vietnam in the group stage in 2014, but we still won in the end - that is a great motivation for us before this match," Marlias said.

Coach Park Hang-seo said he hopes to receive enthusiastic cheers at My Dinh Stadium and does not want to disappoint fans. Coach Park shared: "We understand the importance of tomorrow's match. We will not let fans disappoint the Vietnamese team. The players played well at Bukit Jalil Stadium with more than 80,000 fans of the home team. I call on Vietnamese fans to support the bigger team at Bukit Jalil Stadium."

Coach Park Hang-seo at the press conference before the second leg of the final. Photo: Trung Kien

The Korean captain shared more about his feelings in the second final match with Vietnamese football: "Playing at home will have great motivation from the audience. However, that is also pressure on the players, I will ask the players to play more calmly."

Coach Park Hang-seo has great support from both Vietnamese and Korean fans. He affirmed that he really likes working in Vietnam, appreciates the affection of the fans and tries to complete the task to achieve the best results. The 59-year-old strategist affirmed that there are 23 players in the best physical condition to compete in this tournament and has complete confidence in his students.

The two coaches and players of the two teams shook hands before the final match at My Dinh. Photo: Trung Kien

"I have selected 23 players with the best form and fitness. They are high-quality players and ready to play in every match. Therefore, for me, Huy Hung playing in the previous match and scoring that goal is not a surprise," said coach Park.

Before the rematch at My Dinh, Malaysian media as well as some away team players said that Vietnam played rough and aggressively under the direction of coach Park Hang-seo. However, coach Park affirmed that Vietnam is not a team that plays rough: "First, I need to affirm that I and the coaching staff of the Vietnam national team have never asked my students to play rough, targeting the opposing players. My football philosophy is based on certainty, but comes from reason. In addition, I also believe that my players do not play rough," coach Park replied.

A Korean reporter asked Coach Park Hang-seo another question: "What do you think about the increasing number of Korean fans paying attention to you and the Vietnam National Team?" Coach Park Hang-seo replied: "I know that the number of Korean fans watching the recent matches of the Vietnam National Team at the AFF Cup 2018 is increasing. For me, this is an honor. And at the same time, it is also a responsibility, to satisfy both Vietnamese and Korean fans."

The away team has the best squad.

Compared to the first leg of the final, Malaysia has a very good squad for the second leg. This team has 3 players returning after suspension and injury. Therefore, coach Tan Cheng Hoe is confident that the 11 players on the field in the starting lineup are all the best names: "We will launch our best lineup. In the first leg, we did not have some important players, but in Hanoi, we are ready."

AFF Cup 2018: Be careful with the Malaysian ego "resurrected from the grave"

(Baonghean.vn) - Before the second leg of the AFF Cup 2018 final, Malaysia faced many disadvantages against host Vietnam. However, Malaysia's opponents must be more cautious if they do not want to suffer defeat as Malaysia always knows how to "rise from the dead" in difficult times.