BANGKOK (26 Nov 2012) – Append below are the quotes from the pre-match Press Conference for the match between Vietnam and Philippines tomorrow.
Ngo Le Bang – Vietnam team manager
“We saw the matches from Group B last night, and it showed that there is no final conclusion that any one team is strong. The gap is getting closer between teams and they are all equal in this tournament.
Philippines are very strong and they have tall players, who are always active with good technique. It will not be an easy game even though the Philippines have lost their first match to Thailand.
Personally, I don’t think that the Philippines should have lost that game. The pressure was on Thailand as they were the hosts and I thought that a draw would have been a fair result.
In 2010, we did not have such a good moment when we lost to the Philippines (2-0 at home at the My Dinh National Stadium).But we will overcome, we have ten players from 2010 and I am sure they will be eager to change things around.
We have some players who are injured but they are recovering and I think that we have to be at our best against a Philippines side which is physically stronger and good in the air.
It is important for us to win the game to make sure that we have a chance to progress further in the competition.”
Michael Weiss – Philippines chief coach
“It is do or die. A draw is not good enough. The loser will go home.
There are some people back in the Philippines who are already talking about the semi-finals and the finals. They are missing the bigger picture.
There are football developments in our country but when you compare to Thailand, we are still so far away. So we have to look at the bigger picture.
We need players like Marwin (Angeles) who are warriors and who are 100% ready for battle. In the match against Thailand, two or three players underperformed and that is bad for a team.
We did not perform in our first game against Thailand, and so we lost. There was a chance to draw the game but we just could not get to it. I think that we have to look at the long term and not just short term.
The good news is that (Denis) Wolf is back and with everybody fit we are ready for this match.
As for Vietnam, they have five offensive players who are fluid in their movement. So we have to have quick movement, and pressure early and not allow them to play.”
Pictures by Thananuwat Srirasant (World Sport Group)
