What did the Ho Chi Minh City Police Club say before the match against the Thai representative?

On the afternoon of October 6th, a press conference was held in Thailand ahead of the opening match of Group A in the Southeast Asian Club Championship - Shopee Cup 2026-2027 between host team Ratchaburi FC and Ho Chi Minh City Police FC. The match will take place at 7 PM tomorrow (October 7th).

Speaking about how to adapt to the arrival of a host of new players, plus the absence of four key players who are representing Vietnam in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 , coach Arthur Diles admitted this is a major challenge.

He said: "Football is a tough job. And in this industry, there's never calm seas; there are always surprises and unexpected events happening."

Most importantly, we have assembled a strong, deep squad with many talented young players that you will see tomorrow night."

The Australian manager said the entire team had worked very hard over the past eight weeks to build a fighting style of play. "We want to be a team that plays proactively and fearlessly, regardless of the opponent and whether we are playing at home or away," he said.

Coach Arthur Diles considers the Shopee Cup a high-quality tournament, and also an opportunity for new players to showcase their talents, especially some foreign players who haven't played at the beginning of the season.

Speaking about his feelings about competing in the tournament, coach Arthur Diles shared: "I think this is a historic milestone for Ho Chi Minh City Police FC. This is the first time we've competed in a Southeast Asian tournament, so this is a huge event for the club, the fans, and our city."

Therefore, it is crucial tomorrow night that we play for the image of the club, of the city, and most importantly, that the players perform at their best to create the highest possible chance of winning."

Aiming for the championship

For his part, striker Jason Cummings (Australia) shared: "Ratchaburi is a very strong team, with many good players and a quality coaching staff. But we are participating in this tournament with the aim of winning the championship."

We're here with high spirits and pride, and I have confidence in the team's current strength. We've prepared very well for this match. The team has had several weeks to prepare, so everything is going according to plan, and we will give our best."

Jason Cummings recently joined the Ho Chi Minh City Police FC this season. He is the striker valued at 650,000 euros by the transfer website transfermarkt, the highest value on the Police team.

Speaking about his feelings about participating in the tournament, Jason Cummings said he felt very excited. "The Shopee Cup is a huge tournament, receiving a lot of attention from fans. Many fans are really looking forward to this tournament."

As I said before, our goal is to win. So we will focus on tackling each match one at a time and enjoying the experience. Hopefully, the team can go as far as possible."