Midfielder Quang Hai: 'The Philippines is an unknown, the Vietnamese team needs to have the best preparation'
Midfielder Quang Hai said that the Philippines has recently naturalized many players, so the Vietnamese team needs to have the best preparation.
On the afternoon of June 4, the Vietnamese team continued to train at the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Youth Football Training Center to prepare for the match against the Philippines in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia. This was the fourth training session of the Vietnamese team under new head coach Kim Sang-sik.
In an interview before the training session, midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai shared his thoughts on his team's preparations to welcome the Philippines.
“We are getting into the rhythm quite quickly, feeling excited with each training session with the new coach. At the moment, the whole team is trying to adapt to the coach’s tactical intentions. We have video sessions in groups, so the players can understand and absorb the tactics of the coaching staff.
In the upcoming match, the Philippine team will have new naturalized players, this is an unknown factor but the whole team will have the best preparation. I think we have just gone through a rather dense competition period in the V-League, but the head coach has already prepared a training plan. Our players have recovered and are getting into the rhythm of the training sessions to prepare for the upcoming matches," Quang Hai said about the situation of the Vietnamese team after 4 training sessions with coach Kim Sang-sik.
Also in his interview, Quang Hai revealed that coach Kim Sang Sik has a good relationship with the Vietnamese players. The Korean coach even considers his students as close younger brothers.
Midfielder Quang Hai shared: “We feel that the head coach is like a brother or a teacher. When a player goes on the field and the head coach creates a closeness and intimacy, we feel comfortable. That is the trust in the players so that we can confidently go out on the field and play to the best of our ability.”
Quang Hai also said that playing at home at My Dinh Stadium gives the Vietnamese players great motivation to aim for victory against the Philippines as a gift to the fans.
In addition, Quang Hai also revealed that the coaching staff of the Vietnamese team has a plan to replace the position of central defender Bui Hoang Viet Anh, who is absent from this match due to suspension.
"The head coach and coaching staff have made calculations about the staff, and the whole team completely agrees with that. No one wants Bui Hoang Viet Anh to be absent, everyone wants to play and contribute to the team, even in friendly matches. However, the coaching staff also has certain calculations," Quang Hai concluded.
Some pictures from the practice session on June 4:
