Cambodia coach praises Vietnam women's team for being too strong, coach Mai Duc Chung 'I'm a bit greedy so...'

Coach Mai Duc Chung affirmed that the Vietnamese women's team could have won by a bigger margin if they had taken advantage of the opportunities in the match against Cambodia.

Coach Mai Duc Chung wants his students to be more thrifty

The Vietnamese women's team had an impressive start to the 2025 AFF Cup when they defeated Cambodia 6-0, thanks to goals from Duong Thi Van, Pham Hai Yen, Ngan Thi Van Su, Nguyen Thi Van, Nguyen Thi Truc Huong and Thai Thi Thao. However, this result only helped coach Mai Duc Chung and his team finish second in Group A after the opening round.

Because in the remaining match, the Thai women's team won Indonesia with a score of 7-0. Even with the same number of points as Vietnam, Thailand ranked higher thanks to a better goal difference (+7 compared to +6).

Highlights of Vietnam women's team 6-0 Cambodia: Rain of goals in the opening match

Vietnam women's team (red shirt) beat Cambodia 6-0

PHOTO: MINH TU

Coach Mai Duc Chung shared after the match: "The atmosphere at Lach Tray Stadium reminded me of the competition atmosphere at the 22nd SEA Games (2003). Today we won gloriously, this is the effort of the audience. I am a bit greedy. Even though today the Vietnamese team won 6-0, I still wish the team could win more. However, we missed many opportunities."

Coach Mai Duc Chung also explained why midfielder Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha only entered the field in the second half.

"Thanh Nha has just returned, so the coaching staff will only calculate how to use her at the right time. This tournament is difficult for the Vietnamese women's team and we will try our best in each match to reach the final and win the championship," the 76-year-old strategist affirmed.

'Each team should only naturalize 2 to 3 players'

In the next match taking place at 7:30 p.m. on August 9 at Lach Tray Stadium, the Vietnamese women's team will face Indonesia. In the Southeast Asian arena, Mai Duc Chung's students often win big against their opponents from the archipelago. Another victory will help the Vietnamese women's team enter the semi-finals one match early.

Coach Mai Duc Chung commented: "I rate Thailand higher than Indonesia. The score they won 7-0 says it all. Thailand's squad is very young, with many new players that I don't even know. This tournament is Thailand's preparation for the SEA Games and for the tournaments that follow.

For me, Southeast Asian women's football develops very slowly. Personally, I think regional teams should only allow 2 to 3 naturalized players per tournament, leaving the rest to develop domestic players, while also creating fairness and avoiding disadvantages for teams that are not naturalized. As for Indonesia, I used to think they had many naturalized players and were stronger. For women's football, only 1 or 2 naturalized players cannot change the strength of the team much."

Vietnam women's team meets Indonesia in the second round

PHOTO: MINH TU

Meanwhile, coach Koji Gyotoku of the Cambodian women's team admitted that he has not had many opportunities to work with the players. Interestingly, Mr. Gyotoku is leading the Cambodian men's team and U.23 team, but was appointed to take charge of the women's team just a few days before the 2025 AFF Cup.

"I have only had a short time working with a women's team. However, I have noticed a difference in level between the two teams. The Vietnamese women's team is too strong so we cannot win this match.

Highlight of Thailand women's team 7-0 Indonesia: The match was too one-sided

The Vietnamese women's team has a similar playing style to the men's team. Before that, I and the Cambodian team had the opportunity to compete with the Vietnamese team and U.23 Vietnam and realized that the Vietnamese players had very flexible techniques and movements. However, in these matches, we performed relatively well. If compared to Vietnamese football, Cambodia is not as good. But I think with the men's team we can compete, but with the women's team it is more difficult," coach Gyotoku emphasized.

Watch the MSIG Serenity Cup™ 2025 AFF Women's Football Championship live and in full onFPT Play, visit http://fptplay.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hlv-campuchia-khen-nu-viet-nam-qua-manh-hlv-mai-duc-chung-tinh-toi-hoi-tham-nen-185250806213736371.htm