After the match between the Vietnamese women's team and the Japanese women's team at the 2026 Women's Asian Cup on the evening of March 10, coach Mai Duc Chung shared about the diễn biến of the match as well as the development orientation of Vietnamese women's football in the coming time.
Assessing the development of women's football in the region and continent, he said that the Asian women's football movement is having many positive changes.
He said: "It must be said that in Southeast Asia and Asia, women's football has developed very strongly. In Southeast Asia, there are Vietnam, the Philippines and many teams that have invested and paid more attention to women's football.
In addition, countries in Asia such as Iran, Uzbekistan,... are also focusing on developing women's football. AFC leaders are also very interested in promoting the women's football movement in the region, bringing women's football to a new height.
Answering questions related to the defeat against the Japanese women's team, coach Mai Duc Chung said that winning or losing is normal in sports, and affirmed that he is responsible for the team's achievements.
The coach of the Vietnamese women's team also highly appreciated the fighting spirit of the players when facing opponents of higher level.
He said: "The Japanese team has a very high level, superior ranking. However, the Vietnamese players have tried their best. With what the athletes have shown today, I think that is also very commendable".
Analyzing further about the diễn biến of the match, coach Mai Duc Chung said: "In the previous match, we lost a lot of energy due to playing in hot weather. In the second half of this match, the players' fitness decreased, so the intensity of activity was no longer as good as in the first half.
In the first half, it took more than 20 minutes for us to concede a goal. But in the second half, when fitness declined, the opponent exploited the center and the two wings a lot with wall passes and crosses into the box, so we had a lot of difficulty keeping up.
Besides professional issues, coach Mai Duc Chung believes that Vietnamese women's football needs to continue to focus on developing youth training and expanding the movement.
He emphasized: "We must continue to work and strive harder, especially developing youth football. It is necessary to strengthen football in schools, in training institutions as well as in localities. When the movement is stronger, the achievements of the national team can be improved.
At the press conference, coach Mai Duc Chung also thanked the host country Australia and the Vietnamese community for always accompanying the team throughout the tournament.
Before the question about his future, coach Mai Duc Chung said that he plans to withdraw after completing his task. He shared: "After this tournament, I also asked to withdraw. I am very happy that there will be a replacement to continue leading the Vietnamese women's team in the near future.
