In his statement at the press conference after the final victory over Thailand and winning the ASEAN Cup 2024 championship, Coach Kim Sang Sik expressed great pride in his players’ performance. The evening of January 5th marked a historic moment not only for the team but also for the South Korean coach.

“Tonight is history. We had to play in a tough stadium and endure a challenging match. Thanks to the support of all the Vietnamese fans, the team was able to secure the victory. Thank you to the players for not giving up, for fighting until the end. I have won the K-League before, but that was at the club level. With the national team, this is my first championship. It means a lot,” Coach Kim Sang Sik said.

He added, “My start with the Vietnam national team wasn’t easy. After this tournament, we have the Asian Cup qualifiers and SEA Games 33. The ASEAN Cup 2024 championship will provide momentum for everything ahead.”
 

Regarding the controversial second goal by Thailand, Coach Kim said: “It was not a deserved goal. I am disappointed about that. However, the Vietnamese players were not affected and did not lose their spirit after conceding that goal.”

When asked about the situation of striker Tuấn Hải, who was included in the starting lineup for the first time, Coach Kim Sang Sik explained that personnel decisions are made based on each match, and whether a player is on the field depends on the timing. “Tuấn Hải has been training hard. I had said that he would have the opportunity to play. And this final was that opportunity. I want to thank Tuấn Hải very much. Although there was a bit of luck, thanks to him, we scored some important goals in this final.”

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Nguyễn Đình Triệu – the best player of the match – shared: “In 2014, I had quit football to find a better job. I never imagined that 10 years later, I would be here contributing my small part to Vietnam’s championship victory. I never even dreamed of this. I came back to football just to challenge myself and see what I could achieve, not thinking I would be where I am today.” Drawing from his personal experience, Đình Triệu sent a message to young players: “To the young players, be persistent with your passion and enthusiasm. Anything you can pursue with passion will lead to success.”

VFF