Patrik Le Giang: 'All opponents are equal, even Indonesia'

While highly respecting Indonesia, goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang affirmed that Vietnam views all opponents equally and focuses primarily on its own performance.

Goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang smiles during a press conference before the Indonesia - Vietnam match in round 4 of Group A, ASEAN Cup 2026, at Pakansari Stadium, Bogor, Indonesia, on the afternoon of 2/8. Photo: Duc Dong

Initially, captain Nguyen Quang Hai was scheduled to attend the press conference with coach Kim Sang-sik at Pakansari Stadium on the afternoon of 2/8. However, at the last minute, the South Korean coach decided to send goalkeeper Le Giang instead.

Upon entering the room, Le Giang appeared confident and relaxed, constantly smiling. He began the press conference by stating: "We all know how strong Indonesia is, especially playing at home in tomorrow's match. But we are only focusing on ourselves. The team is ready to fight."

Patrik Le Giang, born in 1992 in Slovakia, developed his football career in Europe before returning to his father's homeland, Vietnam, to play in 2023. He played for Hanoi Police FC, Ho Chi Minh City FC, and is currently with Ho Chi Minh City Police FC. After acquiring Vietnamese nationality in may, the goalkeeper was immediately called up to the national team by coach Kim and secured the starting spot from the friendly match against Myanmar to the first two group stage matches against Timor Leste and Singapore in the ASEAN Cup 2026.

When asked by an Indonesian reporter about his assessment of 19-year-old forward Mitchell Bakker, who currently leads the scoring chart with 4 goals, Le Giang stated that he does not focus on individual players. "As coach Kim mentioned, we do not concentrate too much on any specific individual, but rather plan to confront their entire team," he affirmed.

To earn the starting position on the national team, Le Giang had an excellent 2025-2026 season, winning the National Cup with Ho Chi Minh City Police FC and finishing fifth in the V-League. Additionally, he possesses a height of 1,88 m, sharp reflexes, the ability to communicate in Vietnamese, and connects well with his teammates. In the match against Singapore, he also made crucial saves, helping Vietnam secure a 0-0 draw.

Goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang and coach Kim Sang-sik during a press conference before the Indonesia - Vietnam match in round 4 of Group A, ASEAN Cup 2026, at Pakansari Stadium, Bogor, Indonesia, on the afternoon of 2/8. Photo: Duc Dong

Tomorrow's match against Indonesia will be critical for Le Giang and his teammates. Vietnam needs a win or a scoring draw to control their fate for a semifinal spot. Despite this, the naturalized goalkeeper views all matches as equally important.

"For me, every match representing the national team is important. Representing the country is the highest honor for a player. I do not differentiate the importance between matches and always approach every game with the same level of focus. Indonesia is a strong opponent with many quality players, but my goal is always to give my best, bring joy to the fans, and make the country proud," Le Giang concluded the press conference.

Duc Dong

By VnExpress: https://vnexpress.net/patrik-le-giang-moi-doi-thu-deu-nhu-nhau-ke-ca-indonesia-5104335.html