The Vietnamese team vice-captain sets specific goals for himself and his team before entering the 2018 Asian Cup. "AFF Cup is over, and we now have to forget that victory to concentrate on the Asian Cup", Luong Xuan Truong shared on December 30 in Doha, Qatar.

Luong Xuan Truong.

"The whole Vietnamese team is determined, because this tournament is a new challenge, much bigger than the AFF Cup. Therefore, it requires us to work harder and harder to be able to perform well in every match".

At AFF Cup, the midfielder from Tuyen Quang province often plays in the group stage matches but when it comes to semi-finals and finals, he is rarely selected.

"Everyone has his own pressure. For me, that pressure is positive pressure, helping me to strive for the better. Thinking about it helps me find the area I need to improve on and step by step find a way to overcome each challenge, Xuan Truong talked about the difficult period.

At the Asian Cup Group D, Vietnam will meet outstanding competitors including teams of Iran, Iraq and Yemen. The HAGL's player is still confident to set a high target.

"We must at all costs pass the group stage. To do so, the whole team must try its best, make the best effort in both practice and competition," Xuan Truong said. "Personally, I am always looking forward to playing at the Asian Cup Finals, playing as many matches as possible. To do that, I have to work harder to be in the starting lineup."

( Translated by Phi Yen )