Coach Kim Sang-sik: We came here to beat Thailand

Opening the press conference at Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok today, coach Kim recalled the victory in the first leg but wanted the Vietnamese players to leave that joy behind and look forward to the return match which is predicted to not be easy.

"We have to play away, and Thailand, in a must-win situation, will be very strong, playing offensively, putting a lot of pressure. But we don't feel pressured. The team has trained and prepared carefully and hopes to play well tomorrow to become champions," he said.

Thanks to the victory at Viet Tri Stadium two days ago, Vietnam is in a good position, only needing not to lose in the second leg to win the championship. However, Coach Kim wants more than that. He believes that this is not only a match between two teams but also a matter of national pride, besides the fact that the two coaches from Japan and Korea are also fierce rivals in Asian football.

"A few days ago, we won. We will do everything to win the championship, prepare the best mentally and physically. There are many options for tomorrow's match. But, we came here to defeat Thailand and win the championship," the 48-year-old coach emphasized.

Tomorrow, the team will play at Rajamangala Stadium under pressure from about 50,000 home fans. Coach Kim feels the heat from the stands, but is confident in the preparation and steadfast spirit of the Vietnamese players. However, he also admits that the difference in weather between Bangkok and Phu Tho will affect the players to some extent. "Within a month, we have 8 matches, experiencing many types of weather. We have prepared to deal with those things, but in fact, the players are physically tired. However, I believe they will try their best to achieve their goals," he said.

The last time Vietnam won the championship was in 2018 under coach Park Hang-seo. If successful, coach Kim will touch the historical milestone of his fellow Korean, and at the same time create a milestone in the history of confrontations with Thailand. The victory in Viet Tri two days ago was the first time in 27 years that Vietnam defeated Thailand at home in an official tournament. It was also the team's first victory against this opponent in an official tournament since the first leg of the 2008 final at Rajamangala Stadium (won 2-1, before drawing 1-1 in the second leg at My Dinh Stadium to win the championship for the first time under Henrique Calisto).

"This is a big tournament. It is special for both Vietnamese and Korean fans. Vietnam has not won the championship in the past 6 years," said coach Kim when he learned that there would be Korean fans cheering for him and the Vietnamese team. "The past months have not been easy for me and the players, in learning tactics and building a team like the current one. I thank all the members of the coaching staff, logistics team, players, and medical staff who have come together to this day, sticking together from the training ground, the playground to life... We will fight like we have practiced until we achieve our goal."