HLV Polking speaks special words after CAHN secures spot in Asian Champions League Elite

Alexandre Polking emphasized that the win against Adelaide United is particularly meaningful, and he considers the AFC Champions League Elite a chance for CAHN to represent Vietnamese football on the continental stage.

Hanoi Police Club (CAHN) has defeated Adelaide United with a score of 2-0 away from home, thus securing a spot in the group stage of the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite. David Henen and Brayan "Koko" Perea were the goal scorers for the Vietnamese representatives.

Speaking after the match, coach Alexandre Polking did not hide his pride: "I must say this is a very special victory for me personally and for the club. We fully understand the importance of participating in Asia's biggest tournament, especially for a team from Vietnam."

The Brazilian coach believes this achievement comes from the development process and the unity of the whole team over the past two years. According to him, the management, chairman, and all members of CAHN have worked together to build a squad capable of competing at the continental level.

Analyzing the match, Coach Polking admitted that Adelaide United caused many difficulties in the opening minutes with their movement and energy from young players. CAHN faced some pressure and could not immediately control the game.

However, Henen's opening goal in the 41st minute helped the Vietnamese side relieve psychological pressure, while also making the home team anxious. In the second half, CAHN deliberately dropped deeper, maintained a mid-block defense, and limited the attacking space of Adelaide United.

"The second goal from a counterattack gave us great confidence to preserve the result," assessed Coach Polking.

An important factor in CAHN's preparation was the information provided by Stefan Mauk. The Australian midfielder previously played 107 times for Adelaide United, so he knew the opponent quite well.

"Right after the draw, I spoke with Stefan Mauk to learn about Adelaide United. We knew they have many promising young players under 23 who play with great passion," revealed Coach Polking.

CAHN's coaching staff instructed the players to use their experience to control the tempo of the match, recognizing when to speed up or slow down. According to Polking, composure was key to keeping the team in charge and securing the victory.

The CAHN head coach also took special pride in the integration of the new recruits who had only been together for about a month. He said that the players quickly connected and fought for a common goal, which is a positive sign ahead of a challenging journey ahead.

"When facing stronger opponents from Japan, South Korea, or China, that is the best opportunity for us to learn and improve. To progress, you have to compete against the best. We are not only representing a club but also the image of Vietnamese football on the Asian stage," Coach Polking emphasized.

Meanwhile, Koko Perea, the man of the match, put the team's achievement above individual honors. The striker affirmed that he came to CAHN to contribute, support his teammates, and work with the coaching staff toward higher goals.

"Playing in the Asian arena, facing top teams and players in modern stadiums is a wonderful experience. This is a huge motivation for me to keep striving," shared Koko Perea.