Coach Kim Sang Sik: 'I will find the suitable position for Hên'

Hoàng Hên did not score in his debut match for the Vietnamese national team but had a highly effective and hardworking performance. This is why Coach Kim Sang Sik believes he will find the most suitable position for this player in the upcoming match against Malaysia on March 31.

The Vietnamese national team had a perfect warm-up, preparing for their final match in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers against Malaysia by easily defeating Bangladesh 3-0.

At the post-match press conference, Coach Kim Sang Sik shared: "Before the match, I talked with Hoàng Hên. I told him he might need to change positions on the field, asked how he felt about it, if he could handle it, and Hên agreed.

He told me he could do it. During the match, Hên can adapt to various different positions. Given his abilities, especially in the match against Malaysia, I will find the most suitable position for Hoàng Hên.

Regarding Xuân Son's weight issue, it needs to be checked again. He has gained 4kg. Recently, Xuân Son suffered a thigh muscle injury, so his movement hasn't been optimal.

Son is in the recovery process and regaining his form, which is highly anticipated for the next match, as he can operate more broadly and coordination will improve".

Regarding Đoàn Văn Hậu's return, Coach Kim Sang Sik stated: "Văn Hậu can perform best as a left-sided center-back and left defender.

Recently, he played well in V-League and performed excellently upon joining the national team this time. Văn Hậu needs to adjust his fitness and playing style. I assign Văn Hậu to play on the flank to minimize his playing minutes, reduce movement distance slightly for adjustment, so that by the match against Malaysia he reaches his best form. He can play well as a left-sided center-back, which is a possibility for the upcoming match.

In this match, I mainly focused on tactical requirements and checking the players' physical condition. Recently, players have been fatigued due to the prolonged V-League. Through substitutions, many positions can maintain condition and reach peak performance for the match against Malaysia.

In the first half, I let Hoàng Đức and Quang Hải play. In the second half, I made substitutions to prepare for scenarios where these two players are not on the field and how to adjust. That still requires further consideration".

The Vietnamese national team has three more training sessions at the VFF Youth Training Center before moving to Thiên Trường Stadium on March 30, for field acclimatization and then playing against the Malaysian national team the following day.