Coach Kim Sang-sik defeated the prestigious Premier League team Manchester United.
The ASEAN All-Stars, led by Coach Kim Sang-sik, defeated Manchester United 1-0 in a friendly match held on the 28th at Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Manchester United, which finished the season in 15th place in the Premier League, has faced another blow to its pride.
Most of Manchester United's key players, including Mainu, DIO Dalot, Casemiro, Hojlund, Maguire, and Onana, started in the first half. The ASEAN All-Stars, led by Coach Kim Sang-sik, scored the winning goal in the second half.
After the match, Coach Kim Sang-sik noted, "It was fantastic to be able to play a wonderful game against the world-class club Manchester United. I am very satisfied to achieve this precious victory. Despite the short training period of two days, the players showed organized and stable performance as if they had been playing together for 20 years."
Even Coach Kim did not imagine winning against Manchester United. He stated, "Honestly, I did not expect to win. We achieved victory against a strong team like Manchester United. This match holds a very special meaning for me as a coach. The experience with the ASEAN All-Stars will remain a significant memory for me personally."
Of course, Manchester United was at a disadvantage. They had just played their final Premier League match two days prior and were physically exhausted from long-distance travel. Still, there is no excuse for Manchester United's defeat.
Coach Kim Sang-sik remarked, "I have supported Manchester United since the days when Park Ji-sung played. The Manchester United players found themselves in a physically challenging situation after a long flight in hot weather. Manchester United is a team that can aim for the championship at any time," maintaining humility despite the victory.
This match confirmed the potential of Southeast Asian players. Coach Kim Sang-sik is now returning to the Vietnam national team. He stated, "As the coach of Vietnam, we will face Malaysia in the Asian Cup qualifiers on June 10. The stadium will be filled with the bright yellow color emblematic of the Malaysian national team. If we prepare thoroughly, good results will follow," pledging a full victory.
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