Asian Games

HÀ NỘI — Following the historic 1-0 win of the Việt Nam Olympic team against Syria in the quarter-final match of the ongoing Asian Games 2018 (ASIAD) in Indonesia on Monday, Việt Nam’s South Korean head coach Park Hang-seo received many media questions about this win and the next match against his native country South Korea in the semi-finals on August 29.

Park answered that he cried for South Korea’s win but that Việt Nam would beat South Korea to enter the final.

“I was moved to tears after South Korea bested Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals. As everyone knows, I love my country very much,” said Park.

“But at present, I am head coach of the Việt Nam team. I have my responsibility to the team. I will make every effort, prepare the best to bring the glory to Việt Nam in the semi-finals. We want to beat South Korea to reach the final match,” Park added.

Reviewing the game, Park didn’t hide his emotion as once again his players had earned a victory with their intelligence, bravery and unity.

“We reached another step in the ASIAD. My players showed their spirit of Việt Nam. I am very proud of Việt Nam Olympic’s performance. This win is a driving force and power as well as glory when I train them,” said Park.

The South Korean coach also shared that he didn’t have any secrets to success. He simply taught players that there is no “I” in the team, only “we”.

“I think that my players have had an advance. We have the same target and together improve step by step,” said Park.

Park also said that he was happy to work in Việt Nam and that he enjoyed the work of sharing and imparting his knowledge about football to the Vietnamese, although he modestly insisted that his knowledge wasn’t much.

A South Korean reporter said, “In 2002, you led South Korea to the semi-finals of World Cup and stopped. What do you think as this year you also lead Việt Nam to the ASIAD’s semi-finals?”

“In 2002, I was coach assistant to Guss Hiddink and now I am head coach. In 2002, my team stopped in the semi-finals but this time, we will overcome South Korea to play in the final,” said Park.

This is the first time Việt Nam have entered the semi-finals of the ASIAD. — VNS