Malaysian coach determined to 'rewrite history' against Vietnam

On the afternoon of June 9, the head coach of the Malaysian team - Mr. Peter Cklamovski, attended a press conference before the match against the Vietnamese team in the second match of the third qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup. The match will take place at 8:00 p.m. on June 10 at Bukit Jalil Stadium and is considered to be decisive in the race for tickets to the final round.

After the first round, both Malaysia and Vietnam have 3 points. However, the away team temporarily leads Group F thanks to a superior goal difference. This encounter is therefore not only a fateful confrontation, but also a measure of the true ambition of the two leading teams in the region.

Coach Peter Cklamovski said his team is ready for the big challenge. He stressed that Malaysia is on the right track with its long-term development plan, while building an effective and physically fit team.

“We have prepared well. Some of the players have come back from different places, but all of them are proud to be Malaysians. The atmosphere in the team is very positive and close-knit like a family. We will show that spirit on the pitch tomorrow,” he said.

The Australian coach affirmed that he wants to bring Malaysian football closer to world class. Fitness is a key factor, especially in the context that many players have not played since the end of April. He said that the recent concentration process has helped the players improve significantly in terms of physical and tactical aspects.

When asked about the pressure of having to beat Vietnam after 10 years without knowing victory, coach Cklamovski affirmed that his team is ready to change history.

“We want to win every match. It has been 10 years since Malaysia has won against Vietnam, but tomorrow could be a turning point. This is not just a single match but an opportunity to prove that Malaysia is changing.”

Also at the press conference, defender Matthew Davies shared that the Malaysian team, despite facing a slight disadvantage in terms of domestic competition schedule, still maintained a positive spirit. “The Malaysian national championship ended earlier, so we haven’t had many matches recently. However, the whole team has taken advantage of the past time to focus on improving our physical fitness. We believe in the preparation process and believe we can achieve good results.”

When asked about the change in the Vietnamese team, Davies said that the Malaysian team did not pay too much attention. “We focus on our own play. Anyone who cannot play on the opponent’s side will be replaced by someone else. The important thing is that our team maintains its cohesion and plays according to the right tactics.”

The confrontation between Malaysia and Vietnam at Bukit Jalil Stadium is predicted to be very tense and exciting. In the context that both teams are eager to win to gain an advantage in Group F, this will be one of the key matches of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers./.