Coach Kim Sang Sik: 'Đình Bắc must rise above the Southeast Asian level'

Coach Kim Sang Sik commended striker Đình Bắc and encouraged him to set his sights on loftier ambitions following his brilliant display, which guided the Vietnamese squad to a 3-1 victory over Cambodia in the last group stage game of the 2026 ASEAN Cup.

At the post-match press conference, Coach Kim Sang Sik stated: "I am very pleased that the Vietnam national team secured the win, thereby advancing to the semifinals as group leaders. Thanks to the enthusiastic support from the fans today, we have achieved our initial objective.

In the match against Singapore, Đình Bắc was substituted early. I think he was a bit disappointed, but he overcame that and performed his duties very well in today's game.

I told Đình Bắc not to limit his thinking to the ASEAN Cup, but to dare to aim for higher-level tournaments. I have high expectations for Đình Bắc and hope he understands that so he can keep striving."

Explaining why he left Xuân Son, Tài Lộc, and Hoàng Hên on the bench, Coach Kim Sang Sik shared: "A few days ago, Tài Lộc, Văn Hậu, and Hoàng Hên had stomach issues and were not in top physical condition. That gave opportunities to players who had seen less playing time. Getting on the field in this match will greatly benefit them.

Through mistakes, the players will learn lessons. Hoàng Đức played well in previous matches, but his physical condition declined in this game, so I decided to substitute him. After Hoàng Đức left the pitch, Cambodia found it easier to play, causing our defenders to make errors and concede a goal."

In a tournament like the ASEAN Cup, I must rotate the squad before each match. The coaching staff also has to carefully calculate personnel arrangements so that everyone can fulfill their duties well."

Meanwhile, the man of the match, Đình Bắc, shared: "The Vietnam national team has many quality players. I don't see that as pressure but as motivation to improve myself, keep trying, maintain a disciplined lifestyle, and train hard to sustain good form."