In an interview,striker Le PhatAnd midfielder Van Thuan shared his thoughts on the emotional journey of the Vietnam U23 team at the recent tournament. Memorable moments were not only determined by the match results, but also by the belief and spirit that the coaching staff instilled in the young players. For Le Phat and Van Thuan, the encouragement from...Coach Kim Sang-sikThe defeat against China's U23 team is a memory they will VT88 cherish forever.

"It was just one match. You all have your whole future ahead of you. The match is over, so let it be behind you and focus on your own future."Van Thuan recalled the special words that coach Kim Sang-sik had for his players after the semi-final match did not go as planned.

Striker Le Phat will always remember the special words of coach Kim Sang-sik after the loss to China. (Source: VFF)

The defeat against China U23 had affected the morale of many young players. But instead of blaming them, coach Kim Sang-sik chose to encourage them, helping them look to the future. With that boost in morale, Vietnam U23 overcame difficulties, played with great composure, and secured a convincing victory against South Korea U23 in the bronze medal match.

Throughout the tournament, fans often jokingly referred to the team's success as the "black magic" of coach Kim Sang-sik. Le Phat believes that this "magic" stems from the meticulous preparation and flexible tactical adjustments of the coaching staff.

“In each match, Coach Kim and the coaching staff come up with different strategies, possibly changing the formation. But the players always stay highly focused to adapt to the tactics the coach sets out.”, Le Phat shared.

In addition, the coaching staff also thoroughly studied each opponent, from East Asian teams like South Korea and China to West Asian representatives like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Attack and defense strategies were prepared in advance so that the entire team could adapt quickly when entering the match.

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Despite making tactical adjustments depending on the opponent, Le Phat affirmed that the Vietnam U23 team still maintains its identity: disciplined defense, attacking together, and defending together as a unified team.

When asked about Coach Kim Sang-sik's impact on the team's journey from the SEA Games to the Asian Championships, midfielder Van Thuan said that Coach Kim is very strict during training sessions. In contrast, off the field, he is approachable, cheerful, and creates a comfortable atmosphere for the players. This contrast helps the entire team respect, bond with, and trust the coaching staff.

"When working with Coach Kim, we're always very focused so we can keep up with the pace of the competition. Coach Kim is strict on the training ground, but off the field, he's very friendly with us.", Van Thuan shared.

Before going onto the field, Van Thuan said that coach Kim Sang-sik always pays close attention to and gives very detailed instructions to young players before matches.“Coach Kim reminded me most of all to avoid committing fouls in my own half of the court. Because I have a habit of using my hands to pull people, he always gave me very careful instructions before I went onto the court.”

Striker Le Phat also wanted to express his gratitude to coach Kim Sang-sik:"I was a little nervous when I entered the tournament, but I also want to thank Coach Kim for his constant care and efforts in guiding and helping me achieve the best possible results."