Khuat Van Khang: 'Pressure from home crowd is motivation to compete'

Competing under the pressure of 80,000 spectators at Bung Karno Stadium is no small challenge, but captain Khuat Van Khang believes it is an opportunity for U23 Vietnam to show their mettle.

Van Khang believes that the pressure from Indonesian fans is the motivation for U23 Vietnam to show their bravery. Photo: VFF .

Sharing on the ASEAN United FC homepage before the 2025 U23 Southeast Asian final, midfielder Khuat Van Khang affirmed that the whole team is ready both mentally and in spirit: “Playing in front of tens of thousands of Indonesian fans is definitely a big challenge, but that motivates us to show our mettle. We will prepare well and enter the final with the greatest confidence.”

This is the third consecutive time that U23 Vietnam has reached the final of the U23 Southeast Asian tournament. This time, the opponent is the host U23 Indonesia, a team that is receiving great expectations from fans.

It is expected that more than 80,000 spectators will fill the Bung Karno stadium at 8:00 p.m. on July 29. However, Khuat Van Khang believes that the pressure from the stands will not make him and his teammates falter.

Talking about the team’s journey since the beginning of the tournament, the player from The Cong Viettel shared: “I am very proud of the fighting spirit of the whole team. We always play with solidarity, follow the tactics and try our best in every match. Reaching the final is a worthy reward for those efforts.”

At the age of 22, Van Khang is one of the most experienced players in the current U23 Vietnam squad. The role of captain does not make him feel pressured.

“I don’t see it as a burden, but as a responsibility. I always try to support my teammates both on and off the field, bringing confidence and positive energy to the whole team,” said the captain of the U23 Vietnam team.

Van Khang also highly appreciated the spirit of the current generation of players: “Each generation has its own identity. This year's players are younger and many are participating in the tournament for the first time, but the common point is the spirit of fighting for the flag and the shirt. That is what makes me believe in our collective strength.”

Source: https://znews.vn/khuat-van-khang-ap-luc-tu-khan-gia-chu-nha-la-dong-luc-thi-dau-post1572288.html