Vietnam U17 wary of Malaysia's resurgence

Vietnam U17 head coach Cristiano Roland issued an early warning to his players not to underestimate Malaysia ahead of the Southeast Asia U17 final, scheduled at Stadium Gelora Delta Sidoarjo (Indonesia) at 7:30 PM tomorrow, April 24.

Despite Vietnam U17 previously defeating Malaysia U17 4-0 in the group stage, Roland believes the team led by his counterpart Shukor Adan has now displayed a different, more dangerous and formidable appearance.

According to him, Malaysia's clear improvement in form and confidence following that defeat makes them an opponent that cannot be underestimated.

"Malaysia will enter the final with a different mindset and form. Therefore, we need to maintain focus and prepare optimally," Coach Roland cautioned.

Since that heavy loss, Malaysia U17 has made a strong comeback with three consecutive victories, including a 3-0 win over Laos in the semifinal to secure their spot in the final.

This development has made Coach Roland even more cautious, especially as Vietnam U17 aims for its first championship since 2017.

"We still have one crucial match ahead. The entire team needs to maintain high concentration and keep a clear objective."

The final tomorrow evening is predicted to be a genuine challenge for Vietnam U17, as Malaysia U17 currently holds positive momentum and is ready to create surprises in the decisive match.

Malaysia U17 coach Shukor Adan expressed confidence: "For most players, the match against Vietnam is their first international game. Therefore, it is a learning process.

What I respect most is how they bounced back with a very strong spirit when facing Indonesia. I must acknowledge the players and coaching staff for always providing motivation and inspiration.

We need to understand that this is essentially a U17 team but includes some U15 players. We were placed in a tough group with Vietnam and Indonesia, two strong teams.

But afterward, what we focused on was improving the team's morale and physical condition to steer it back on the right track.

To me, the most notable aspect is how the players stood up after what happened in the first match.