On the afternoon of December 23, the U23 Vietnam team returned to training to prepare for the 2026 U23 Asian Cup finals.
Before the training session, midfielder Khuat Van Khang shared: "After the 33rd SEA Games, the whole team also had a break of about 2-3 days. When I returned, everyone's spirit was very comfortable. The whole team is ready for the next missions.
The gold medal is certainly a great motivation for the players to aim for the next goals, first of all the U23 Asian tournament. Everyone has to try their best."
With a tight intensity of competition but little rest, many people are concerned about the players' physical strength and condition.
Van Khang said: "Although the break is not long, there is still a little something to make the players more comfortable. Of course, there needs to be a longer break, but to prepare for the next tournament, the whole team must be in good spirits".
In the U23 Asian finals, U23 Vietnam will face U23 Jordan, U23 Kyrgyzstan and host U23 Saudi Arabia.
"The opponents of U23 Vietnam are all continental-level teams, all of which are very strong. However, we will definitely practice well, aiming for each match to get the best results," Van Khang emphasized.
In previous tournaments, U23 Vietnam has reached the quarter-finals or even advanced to the next round. When asked about the pressure, the midfielder born in 2003 said: "The goal of the whole team is to aim for the highest result, but I think, to do that, the whole team must play well in each match before thinking about the next rounds".
