Coach Pohang Steelers: 'Hanoi FC is not easy to play'

*Hanoi FC - Pohang Steelers: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 20, on MetaSports.

Pohang Steelers are away against Hanoi FC at My Dinh Stadium in the first match of Group J AFC Champions League (ACL) 2023-2024. Through technical video analysis, coach Kim Gi-dong assessed that Hanoi FC is well organized with many agile players.

"Hanoi is not an easy opponent," Coach Pohang said at the press conference on the afternoon of September 19. "We have to try to keep the same way of playing to get three points."

In the past, Vietnamese clubs have never won against the Korean representative at the ACL. Hanoi and Pohang also met in the final play-off round of ACL 2016 with a 3-0 win belonging to the Korean representative.

Pohang won the ACL championship in the 1996-1997, 1997-1998, 2009 seasons and won runner-up in 2021. In K-League 1 in 2022, Pohang ranked third overall. Korean players have top physiques and physical strength in Asia. Besides, Pohang has three quality Brazilian players: Oberdan, Zeca and Wanderson.

The most significant absence is 22-year-old midfielder Goh Young-jun, who is with the Korean Olympic team attending Asiad 19 in China. Coach Kim assessed that Goh has excellent technique and is very important in his playing style. He hopes other players play well to fill the void of his teammates.

Pohang and Urawa Red Diamonds are considered candidates for two Group J tickets to the ACL knockout round. Both have seniority in the tournament, Urawa is the defending tournament champion. However, Hanoi FC is carefully preparing to challenge the representatives of Japan and Korea. The capital football team aims to become the first Vietnamese club to pass the ACL group stage.