Coach Tan Cheng Hoe: 'Malaysia must be confident against the Vietnam team'

Coach Tan Cheng Hoe admitted that the Vietnam team is strong and experienced, while Malaysia does not have the best squad. Nevertheless, the 58-year-old coach asked his players to focus on themselves and take advantage of home ground to aim for a favorable result in the first leg of the ASEAN Championship 2026 semi-finals.

Malaysia will host the Vietnam team in the first leg of the ASEAN Championship 2026 semi-finals amid significant squad difficulties for the home side. At the pre-match press conference, Coach Tan Cheng Hoe expressed respect for the team of Coach Kim Sang Sik.

"Vietnam is a strong and experienced team," Coach Tan Cheng Hoe assessed. However, he believes that Malaysia should not pay too much attention to the opponent but should focus on their own abilities.

According to Coach Tan Cheng Hoe, Malaysia does not have the strongest squad at the moment as some players are injured, while Wan Kuzain had to return to the US to join his club. The lack of personnel forces the Malaysian coaching staff to reconsider their plans, especially in midfield.

However, Coach Tan Cheng Hoe does not want to see personnel issues as a reason for Malaysia to lack confidence against Vietnam. The coach believes that the current difficulties also open up opportunities for young players to play in a big match and gain international experience.

"We need to focus and be confident in ourselves rather than focusing on Vietnam," Coach Tan Cheng Hoe emphasized. The home advantage is considered an important factor by the Malaysian strategist for his team to strive for a favorable result before the second leg.

Coach Tan Cheng Hoe also admitted that his head-to-head record against the Vietnam team is not good. According to the 58-year-old strategist, Kim Sang Sik's team currently has a strong squad with many dangerous players. Quang Hai is one of the names mentioned by the Malaysian coach as a threat that the home defense needs to be particularly wary of.

Despite many personnel disadvantages, the spirit of the Malaysian players is assessed by Coach Tan Cheng Hoe to be in good condition. He places his faith in the combination of experienced players and young talents, while hoping to receive support from the home fans.

Also at the press conference, defender Ubaidullah Shamsul admitted that Malaysia is considered inferior to the Vietnam team. However, the player affirmed that the home side still aims for victory. In case they cannot get all three points, a draw is also considered acceptable for Malaysia before the second leg in Hanoi.

Ubaidullah believes that the important thing is for Malaysian players to stay focused and play for the team. The defender affirmed that Vietnam is a very strong opponent but Malaysia still has faith in their ability to achieve a positive result at home.

The first leg semi-final between Malaysia and Vietnam takes place at 8:00 PM on August 16 at Kuala Lumpur Stadium. The second leg is scheduled for 8:00 PM on August 19 at My Dinh Stadium.