After the 2-0 victory over U23 Jordan in the opening match, coach Kim Sang-sik highly appreciated the physical condition and fighting spirit of his students.
In an interview in Saudi Arabia, the Korean coach said that favorable weather conditions in Saudi Arabia have helped the players recover quickly.
He especially praised the confidence in the playing style and solid defense organization of the whole team, considering this an important foundation for U23 Vietnam to deploy an effective attacking game.
Regarding the image of striker Nguyen Dinh Bac just leaving the field and eating apples after the match with U23 Jordan, coach Kim Sang-sik shared specifically. According to him, because the match took place early at 2:30 pm local time, the players were forced to have lunch very early.
After playing, some players may feel hungry and the coaching staff has prepared snacks to replenish energy as soon as the match ends. Mr. Kim also said that it is not clear whether Dinh Bac is really hungry or not, but admitted that this player showed signs of exhaustion in the second half.
Coach Kim Sang-sik emphasized Nguyen Dinh Bac's important role in the U23 Vietnam squad. Not only performing the task of scoring goals and putting pressure on the opponent's defense, this striker also actively participates in long-range defense, often pressing and putting pressure right on the opponent's half.
Besides expertise, coach Kim Sang-sik also shared a side story related to the black shirt he often wears in recent matches.
According to him, initially choosing this outfit was only because of the difference compared to the jersey colors of other teams. However, after U23 Vietnam continuously achieved favorable results when he wore a black shirt, the Korean coach considered this a lucky jersey and continued to use it in matches.
Coach Kim Sang-sik said that if U23 Vietnam wins against U23 Kyrgyzstan in the next match, the team will soon complete the goal of winning a ticket to the quarterfinals. Therefore, the whole team will maintain high concentration and strive to play with the greatest determination to aim for positive results.
