Coach Kim Sang Sik: 'Hoàng Hên will play in the best position against Malaysia'

Coach Kim Sang Sik shared notable insights about the debut of naturalized midfielder Đỗ Hoàng Hên following Vietnam's 3-0 victory over Bangladesh, while also revealing plans to utilize this player in the upcoming match against Malaysia.

The Vietnamese national team had a perfect warm-up, preparing for their final match in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers against Malaysia by easily defeating Bangladesh 3-0. In that context, Hoàng Hên was one of the names receiving significant attention as he was given the opportunity to start and played the full 90 minutes.

At the post-match press conference, Coach Kim Sang Sik stated: "Before the match, I spoke with Hoàng Hên. I told him he might need to change positions on the field, asked how he felt about it, if he could handle it, and Hên agreed. He told me he could do it. During play, Hên can adapt to various different positions. Given his abilities, especially in the match against Malaysia, I will find the most suitable position for Hoàng Hên."

Although he couldn't score in his debut, Hoàng Hên was still highly praised for his flexible movement and contribution to the overall play. His ability to perform in multiple positions makes him a notable tactical option for the Vietnamese national team in the near future.

Additionally, the return of Đoàn Văn Hậu also provides more options for the defense. Coach Kim Sang Sik said: "Văn Hậu can perform best as a left-sided center-back and left defender. Recently, he played well in V-League and performed excellently when joining the national team this time. Văn Hậu needs to adjust his fitness and playing style. I placed Văn Hậu on the flank to reduce his playing minutes, slightly shorten his movement distance to adjust so that he can reach his best form for the match against Malaysia. He can play well as a left-sided center-back, that is a possibility for the upcoming match."

In the match against Bangladesh, the coaching staff also seized the opportunity to test the lineup and assess the players' physical condition. Coach Kim Sang Sik added: "In this match, I mainly focused on tactical requirements and checking the players' fitness and condition. Recently, players have been fatigued due to the prolonged V-League schedule. Through substitutions, many positions can maintain their condition, reaching peak performance levels for the match against Malaysia.

In the first half, I let Hoàng Đức and Quang Hải play. In the second half, I made substitutions to prepare for scenarios where these two players are not on the field and how to adjust accordingly. That still requires further consideration.”

According to the plan, the Vietnamese national team will have three more training sessions at the VFF Youth Training Center before moving down to Thiên Trường Stadium on March 30. Coach Kim Sang Sik and his team will have an important match against Malaysia on March 31, where personnel experiments, especially regarding Hoàng Hên's position, are expected to prove effective.