Coach Mano Polking: 'Thailand will play their own style and win'

"We know that everything is not over yet. There is still the second leg, and the Thai team must concentrate from the first minute and at the same time, play as well as the first leg. I would like to remind the whole team to really concentrate to be able to play at their best," said coach Mano Polking.

Coach Mano Polking speaks at the press conference. Photo: Hai Hoang

Before the second leg of the final, Thailand had some injury problems, notably the main striker Dangda who has not yet fully recovered. Coach Polking said: "We miss Dangda. He is a top player. But the first leg showed that without him, the remaining players still did a very good job. We still have time to carefully check the players' injury status. There are still about 30 hours before the match. I have not decided on the lineup yet."

Just like the first leg, the German strategist affirmed that the Thai team did not intend to play defensively: "Thailand did not go out to defend. We went out, played our own style and won."

Thailand's main striker Teerasil Dangda is unlikely to return in the second leg of the 2022 AFF Cup final. Photo: Hai Hoang

Evaluating the opposing team, coach Polking said: "Vietnam played very well in the first leg. They started better but from about the 20th to the 25th minute, we gradually regained control of the situation. Thailand defended a lot at that time, did not attack much in the first half but in the second half the team came back to lead 2-1. Vietnam's equalizer at the end of the match opened up a more attractive situation for the second leg and we will wait and see."

“Vietnam teamWe have a good system but we have good players who can break the deadlock, like Captain Theerathon Bunmathan. We don't have much training time but we have quality players," coach Mano Polking concluded.

The second leg of the 2022 AFF Cup final between Vietnam and Thailand will take place at 7:30 p.m. on January 16 at Thammasat Stadium./.