What did coach Kim Sang-sik say before the match against UAE U23?

(NLĐO) - The Vietnam U23 team is heading towards the quarter-final match of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship against the UAE U23 team with thorough preparation in terms of both professional skills and high determination.

Winning all their group stage matches to reach the quarterfinals of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship, the Vietnamese U23 team surprised experts and earned praise from fans. However, coach Kim Sang-sik also urged his players not to become complacent after their group stage performance.

The 49-year-old South Korean strategist emphasized: “The whole team performed very well, but we can't stop there. Everyone needs to continue to maintain their spirit, focus, and confidence to aim for victory. I believe that, with collective effort, the Vietnam U23 team can not only advance past the quarterfinals but also go even further.”

Building on the momentum from their perfect record in the group stage, the Vietnam U23 team is heading into their match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) U23 team with thorough preparation, both professionally and with a determined spirit to conquer new milestones.

Ahead of the quarter-finals, the Vietnam U23 team continued their important training session to finalize preparations for the match against the UAE U23 team. Prior to this, the coaching staff and players held a technical meeting, analyzing their opponent through video footage of their group stage matches, in order to develop appropriate strategies for the game.

Midfielder Le Viktor expressed his excitement: “The U23 Asian Championship brings together many strong teams, so every match requires thorough preparation. The Vietnam U23 team has successfully advanced through the group stage and now it's time to focus entirely on the quarter-final match.”

"The UAE U23 team is a quality opponent, but spirit, determination, and good preparation will be key for Vietnam to achieve a positive result."

Viktor Le made his debut at the AFC U23 Asian Championship and was named in the starting lineup for the Vietnam U23 team in the final group stage match. His experience in the V-League and the composure of a player of European origin helped Viktor play his role well in the victory against host Saudi Arabia.

Besides his excitement, the Vietnamese-born striker also hopes to shine if given the opportunity to play. "My family always follows and supports me from afar, and that's a great motivation for me to try harder."

"Playing for the national team at the U23 Asian Championship was a very beautiful memory," shared the midfielder from Hong Linh Ha Tinh Club.

According to the schedule, the quarter-final match between Vietnam U23 and UAE U23 will take place at 10:30 PM on January 16th. Earlier that day, Japan U23 will face Jordan U23 at 6:30 PM. The remaining two quarter-final matches will take place on January 17th, between Uzbekistan U23 and China U23 (6:30 PM) and Australia U23 and South Korea U23 (10:30 PM).

Source: https://nld.com.vn/hlv-kim-sang-sik-noi-gi-truc-tran-cham-tran-u23-uae-196260115100138178.htm