With a 1-1 draw against U17 Yemen on the evening of October 27, U17 Vietnam officially qualified for the 2025 AFC U17 Championship as one of the 5 best second-placed teams. In Group I, U17 Vietnam earned 5 points after 1 win and 2 draws. Coach Cristiano Roland could not hide his happiness after this result.
"The most important goal was to qualify and we did it. The coaching staff is very happy and pleased, we have always believed in the players from the first day until now. They are very deserving.
After each match, we prepare for the next match. The result of the previous match between U17 Myanmar and U17 Kyrgyzstan is very important for us to calculate the direction. In today's match, all the players understood, controlled the match, and had a good game. They are very deserving, the important thing is to get a ticket to the final round," coach Cristiano Roland shared in the press conference after the match.
"Right from the club, you need to practice the best, improve yourself. As the head coach, I will choose the best players at that time. When called up, you need to adapt to the exercises I give as quickly as possible. There is still a lot to do in terms of playing style.
My job and the coaching staff's is to do one thing every day to improve, but the important thing is that the players are eager to learn, diligent, and show that they always try. For me, I see that the players are all very good, each with their own style, strengths and weaknesses. I know which players I need to use at which time. That allows them to continue to practice and do better," coach Roland added.
Coach Cristiano Roland also did not forget to thank the audience for cheering on the journey of U17 Vietnam in the 2025 U17 Asian qualifiers.
He said: "Thank you to the fans who came to cheer not only in today's match but also in other matches. Today, at the end of the match, the most important thing is that the players were smart, handled and controlled the match, knowing what to do to achieve the goal of reaching the final round. Until the end of the match, I still felt the affection of the audience for the team.
I would like to thank VFF for creating facilities for the team since the first day I led the team. In addition, the training trips are very important. In Phu Tho, they are very well taken care of. I always feel comfortable, thank you to the organizing committee."
