Hang-seo slams Malaysia for asking for replacements

PETALING JAYA: The crunch match between Vietnam and Malaysia in the AFF Suzuki Cup Group B game today has become a war of words.

Vietnam coach Park Hang-seo slammed Malaysia’s request for replacement following a spate of Covid-19 cases in the team as “unreasonable and unfair”.

The vocal South Korean said the regulation of the tournament allowed teams to select 30 players, which all the teams have done except for Malaysia.

He said Malaysia decided to pick 24 players, and they have to live by their decision.

“Regulations are regulations, you can’t change that. If Malaysia felt it was all right to bring 24 players, they should stick to it. So I think it is not reasonable or fair to bring in replacements now. All the teams here followed the ruling,” said Hang-seo in a virtual press conference yesterday.

Four Malaysian players – goalkeeper Khairulazhan Khalid, rightback Quentin Cheng and wingers Faisal Halim and Akhyar Rashid – are under quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19 in Singapore.

Malaysia are appealing for replacements, especially a goalkeeper.

In respond to Hang Seo’s statement, Malaysia coach Tan Cheng Hoe said: “Yes, there are regulations but the Covid-19 virus affected us, especially to one of our goalkeepers. The organisers have to be flexible.

“If it happens to other teams, we would understand and be accommodating,” said Cheng Hoe during Malaysia’s virtual press conference.

Meanwhile, Vietnam midfielder Luong Xuan Truong said that they have to beat Malaysia if they want to defend the title they won in 2018.

The hardworking 26-year-old said to be champions, they have to beat the best and Malaysia are one of the best in the South-East Asian region.

“We have seen how they played in the last two games, they scored seven goals. They play an attack of three, and anyone playing in those positions are dangerous. We have to be at our defensive best to prevent them from scoring,” said Xuan Truong.

“We have played Malaysia several times in the last three years and we have notched several good results. So that momentum must continue. Both teams have their tactics, but we believe in our counter-attacking style of football.

“Many said we are mentally weaker following the poor run in the third round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers where we lost all the games so far.

Though we learnt how to face top-level sides, being on the losing side is not good.

“That’s something we have to deal with. So we hope to have a good outing in Singapore to restore our confidence,” he added.