'The main focus is to manage…' - head coach Philippe Troussier on Vietnam's football evolution

Philippe Troussier also appreciated the work former boss Park Hang-seo did for the Vietnam national team.

In the year 2010, the Indian national football team engaged in a friendly match with the Vietnam on Indian soil, emerging victorious with a score of 3-1. Notably, the standout performer of the match was India’s current skipper Sunil Chhetri, who scored a hat-trick in the fixture. 

But over the course of 14 years, Vietnam have made significant strides in improving their game and have achieved success in winning notable titles. They are currently positioned 94th in the FIFA rankings, placing them considerably ahead of India. 

In an exclusive interview with Khel Now, Philippe Troussier, the head coach of Vietnam, shared valuable insights into Vietnam’s progress over the years and how they have managed to maintain strong performances in recent times.

Appreciation for the former coach

Philippe Troussier has held the position of the head coach of Vietnam for the past eight months. He not only highlighted their style of play but has also acknowledged the former coach for his outstanding contribution to the team.

“The former coach Mr. Park Hang-seo had a successful run with the team. He along with the team won a number of trophies in South-East Asia, specifically the AFF Championship,” Troussier appreciated his predecessor. 

Style of play

The tactician emphasized on their game and spoke on how they will be approaching the upcoming matches in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

“We are starting a new cycle, especially to change the philosophy of football. As you would have seen, how the team played against Japan. The main focus is to manage the ball, to be patient, to decide and take calculated risks on how to play with the ball. The first half against Japan was an example of our actual potential,” he replied to a query regarding Vietnam’s performance.

“Although we lost the match against Japan, I’m satisfied with the performance of the players. Now our target is to qualify for the next round and for that we need a minimum of three points on the board,” he added at the end.

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