Nepal coach: 'Vietnam is too superior'

On the afternoon of October 8, at the press conference before the match against Vietnam at Go Dau Stadium, Nepal's head coach - Mr. Matt Ross affirmed that the team's goal is to score points in the away match which is predicted to be very difficult.

Coach Matt Ross and goalkeeper Kiran Kumar Limbu attend the press conference.

“It would be great to get 3 points, but if we could get 1 point, we would be very happy. After the defeat against Laos, the whole team has learned from our experience and will try to perform better,” the Australian coach shared.

The 39-year-old coach has great respect for the Vietnamese team, while acknowledging the difference in class between the two teams. “Vietnam is a strong team, with speed, technique and will definitely play offensively. Nepal understands that they are the underdogs, so they must focus on defense and take advantage of counter-attack opportunities to earn 1 point,” he said.

Mr. Ross also highly appreciated the youthful breeze in coach Kim Sang-sik's squad: "Vietnam has many U23 players, they are eager to show off and bring new energy. That is something we must pay special attention to."

Despite being underestimated, Coach Ross still expressed his belief in the spirit and progress of his players, especially the young players: "I told them that even if they only play for 5 or 10 minutes, they must try their best. Playing in a vibrant atmosphere like in Vietnam is a precious opportunity for them to grow up."

Regarding his coaching philosophy, Mr. Ross emphasized that he will prioritize solidity in defense, in the context of the Nepal squad lacking playing time together. “My players rarely get to play at club level. Some play in Bangladesh, Cambodia, so bonding is a challenge. We don’t have any matches in August and September, and now we have to face a strong team like Vietnam,” he admitted.

Despite facing many difficulties in traveling and concentrating, the Australian strategist sees this as an opportunity for Nepalese players to demonstrate their abilities, thereby seeking opportunities to compete in bigger tournaments in the region.

The match between Vietnam and Nepal will take place at 7:30 p.m. on October 9 at Go Dau Stadium.

Source: https://znews.vn/hlv-tuyen-nepal-viet-nam-qua-vuot-troi-post1591938.html