Thailand's head coach gives honest remarks about CAHN at the Shopee Cup

Assistant coach Surachai Chaturaphatphong from BG Pathum United expressed great respect for CAHN's abilities before their upcoming group stage encounter in the 2025/26 Shopee Cup.

CAHN will begin their 2025/26 Shopee Cup campaign with an away match at BG Pathum United's stadium.

As the current runners-up, the Vietnamese side is considered capable of posing significant challenges on Thai soil. Assistant coach Surachai Chaturaphatphong of BG Pathum United acknowledged this, but also made a strong statement regarding his team's ambitions.

He stated: "Cong An Ha Noi is a team of high caliber; last season they reached the final match. For us, we still need to assess the condition of several players to determine who will be available for the game.

Our clear objective is to reach the final. Although this is just our first match, the whole team has prepared thoroughly to go far in the competition. Besides this tournament, we also have to compete in both the AFC Champions League and the Thai League. We will focus on each game as it comes."

Additionally, Sarach Yooyen, the player who holds the record for most AFF Cup titles,also acknowledged the strength of the police football club and praised the quality of Vietnamese players.

The 1992-born star shared: "Whether at the national team or club level, facing Vietnam is always a tough challenge. Vietnamese players are of great quality, which we've witnessed firsthand at the international level.

However, I personally don't focus on any individual but rather on the collective unity of our squad, sticking to our style of play in both attack and defense."

Last season, Pathum United performed impressively and reached the Shopee Cup semifinals. However, against the dominant Buriram United, "The Rabbit" suffered a 3-1 aggregate defeat over two legs, ending their run among the final four. Buriram United then went on to beat CAHN in two thrilling finals to be crowned Southeast Asia's club champions.

In their opening match of the new season, both Pathum United and CAHN will undoubtedly aim for victory to bring joy to their home fans and set a positive tone for the upcoming games. The match between Pathum United and CAHN is scheduled for 7:00 PM tonight (August 20).

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