Coach Alexandre Polking and defender Le Van Do of CAHN Club at the press conference.
At noon on November 2nd, during the pre-match press conference between CAHN Club and Kyoto Sanga, coach Alexandre Polking expressed his determination to continue his journey with his players in Asia’s most prestigious club competition.
The 3-2 away win against Shanghai Port in the third matchday boosted the confidence of the Public Security team. This was not only the first victory for CAHN Club in the AFC Champions League Elite but also helped the Vietnamese representative maintain their chances of advancing to the next round.
After three matches, CAHN Club has 3 points, just one point behind eighth place, the last spot to qualify for the round of 16. Therefore, the match against Kyoto Sanga at 7:15 PM on November 3rd at Hang Day Stadium is of crucial importance to the ambitions of Coach Polking’s team.
“The match against Sanga is a big game for CAHN Club. We have kept our dream alive after the victory against Shanghai Port. CAHN Club wants to participate in the knockout round of the AFC Champions League Elite. The whole team must strive to achieve this,” Coach Polking emphasized.
The Brazilian coach believes that home advantage and the support of the fans will be key factors for CAHN Club to achieve a positive result.
He recalled the team’s performance against Kashima Antlers in their most recent home game and expressed his hope that his players would continue to show the same fighting spirit when facing Kyoto Sanga.
However, the challenge for CAHN Club is considerable as the team is facing a packed schedule, playing three matches in just 10 days. Some players need extra time to recover their fitness after the match against Song Lam Nghe An .
Coach Polking stated that the coaching staff is working hard to prepare the best possible squad. He also acknowledged that Kyoto Sanga faces similar difficulties having to travel a long distance from Japan to Vietnam after their J.League match.
Assessing the opponent, the Brazilian strategist expressed respect for the Japanese representative, especially the quality of their players and their ability to organize their play.
According to him, the J.League is among the highest-level national championships in Asia. Kyoto Sanga boasts a squad with a mix of domestic and foreign players, including many from Brazil.
Nevertheless, coach Polking asserted that CAHN Club has no reason to be apprehensive.
“The match against Sanga will be tough, but we really have nothing to lose in the AFC Champions League Elite. The whole team will fight their hardest,” he said.
Also attending the press conference, defender Le Van Do suggested that CAHN Club needs to learn from previous matches, especially regarding maintaining focus throughout the 90 minutes.
According to this player, moments of lack of concentration had put the team at a disadvantage against Kashima. Therefore, the whole team must minimize mistakes if they want to earn points against the Japanese representative.
Kyoto Sanga coach Ranko Popovic and midfielder Ryuma Nakano at the press conference before the match against CAHN Club.
On the opposite side, Kyoto Sanga’s coach Rando Popovic also expressed his determination to win, although he admitted that CAHN Club was a tough opponent to overcome.
The Japanese team’s coach remained tight-lipped when asked about his tactical approach. He said he didn’t want to reveal too much because Coach Polking could already figure out Kyoto Sanga’s approach to the game.
“Tactics are something I only discuss with my players,” coach Popovic shared.
Notably, when asked about the Kashima Antlers coach’s assessment that it would be difficult to win at Hang Day Stadium, Mr. Popovic frankly agreed.
“The Kashima coach is my friend. He’s right, beating CAHN FC at their home ground is a difficult task, but not impossible,” Kyoto Sanga’s coach affirmed.
Although Kyoto Sanga is currently ranked 14th in the J.League, coach Popovic believes that the league position doesn’t fully reflect the team’s performance. He emphasized that his players are improving with each match and will strive for the best possible result in Hanoi .
Meanwhile, midfielder Ryuma Nakano praised CAHN FC’s attacking strength, especially the speed of their forwards. According to him, Kyoto Sanga needs to organize a tight defense and limit space if they want to achieve their goals.
The player, born in 2002, also admitted that the hot and humid weather conditions in Hanoi caused certain difficulties, but affirmed that this could not be a reason affecting his determination to play.
For CAHN FC, the victory against Shanghai Port FC has opened up hope in the AFC Champions League Elite. Therefore, hosting Kyoto Sanga is not only a professional challenge but also an opportunity for the Vietnamese representative to continue to affirm their competitiveness in the continental arena.
AloJapan.com