Xuân Son: 'Muscle is different from fat, I only focus on football'

Naturalized striker Nguyễn Xuân Son confirms he has reached 100% fitness, recovered from injury, and does not care about opinions suggesting his weight gain has caused sluggishness.

Xuân Son, please tell us about the current status of your injury.

Before the recent match, I felt a slight issue in my leg, but now everything is fine. I have fully recovered from the injury, 100%.

I see no difference while preparing with the team for the next match. I have recovered well. At this moment, I have reached 100% fitness.

Regarding the issue of weight gain and the requirement for weight control?

The media has the right to say what they think; muscle is different from fat, I don't listen too much to what people say.

I only focus on football. When I score, everything is fine. When I don't score, everything is wrong, so I don't listen too much.

I only focus on the next match against Malaysia. The Vietnam national team wants to win. Honestly, I only focus on the match, not paying attention to external matters.

The team faces Malaysia at Thiên Trường Stadium, the home ground of Nam Định Club, what does Xuân Son think about this?

Thiên Trường is a special stadium for me. It is my home when playing for Thép Xanh Nam Định. For me, it is a special match.

I have dreamed of playing this match for a long time, playing at Thiên Trường makes it even more special. I hope we will win. I also hope I can score.

That will be a gift for the fans, as well as for myself. It is a day before my birthday, which can be said to be very special.

Son, what do you think about partnering with Hên in the Vietnam national team?

We don't have much time to train together in the Vietnam national team, and I said this to the whole team. With Hên, we have played together for a long time, so we just need time to train and connect with other players. I think there is nothing too different when playing now, just a little time needed.

I just want to tell the fans, especially Nam Định fans, to support us. We are here, we give everything.

This is Vietnam. We respect the fans, we respect the country Vietnam. We want to win this match because for me it is also very special, I think for everyone else it is the same.

Honestly, I will give 100%. I think the other players will do the same.

Thank you Xuân Son!