Before the first leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 final between Thailand and Vietnam, star Chanathip Songkrasin was present at the host team's hotel to encourage the players.
Although not participating in the tournament, this former midfielder still pays great attention to the journey of the "War Elephants". Chanathip believes that Thailand does not need to overestimate Vietnam and believes that the home team is capable of winning the championship.
He said: "Vietnam thinks they are very good, but everyone underestimates us, saying that we cannot reach the final and cannot be champions. We just need to prove to them.
I want to show my support, speak up and say,'Hey, we were great!'. With the Vietnamese team, we know they are not as good as we think. We don't feel the need to respect the opponent too much because we are playing for the national team.
This statement immediately became a topic discussed by Vietnamese fans on social networks. Many opinions suggest that Chanathip is creating more motivation for the final match. One account commented: "Just let the results on the field answer". Another wrote: "Saying that, it's even more necessary to wait for the match".
Meanwhile, some viewers also recalled that the Vietnamese team once defeated Thailand in both legs of the ASEAN Cup 2024 final and won the championship right on the opponent's field.
The ball hasn't rolled yet, but it seems the Thai team is worried. They have to encourage each other's spirits. It's okay, Vietnam will know how to deal with it," a Vietnamese fan wrote.
Chanathip also highly appreciated Thailand's defense and fighting spirit. He believes that his team does not need to be pressured to play beautifully, because the concentration time is short and the force is not the strongest.
I understand why people have times when they have to retreat to defend, or cannot press the opponent in every situation. Because we are not physically fit enough to continuously push up to press them. Our concentration time is also less," Chanathip emphasized.
The first leg between Thailand and Vietnam takes place at 8:00 PM on August 22nd at Rajamangala, before the two teams rematch at My Dinh on August 26th.
