Calisto calls for calm after comprehensive win

Thursday, December 2, 2010
Vietnam coach Henrique Calisto was keen to temper the host nation's excitement after seeing his side hand Myanmar a 7-1 thrashing as they opened the defence of their AFF Suzuki Cup title on Thursday evening.

Braces for both Nguyen Anh Duc and Nguyen Trong Hoang as well as single strikes from Nguyen Minh Phuong, Le Tan Tai and Nguyen Vu Phuong ensured Vietnam recorded a comprehensive victory as they seek to retain the title they won two years ago.


With goal difference likely to be significant in the battle for top spot in Group B, Calisto expressed his delight at his team's approach to the game but stressed the win will mean little if it is not followed up by another strong performance against the Philippines on Sunday.


"I spoke to the players about this and after we went 4-1 up, some teams would think this is enough," said Calisto. "But we had to keep going, to score one more and one more because the goal difference is important.


"Now is a very happy moment but we haven't won anything, we have won only one game. We must give everything.


"People will think this is enough and we will be champions again but there's a long way to go.


"The Philippines are a strong team with a strong defence and we must be careful. I hope I can transmit this to my players because one game is not enough."


Despite the margin of his side's victory, Calisto was quick to stress how the differences between the teams involved in the AFF Suzuki Cup had narrowed.


"It's been a difficult time for former champions," he said. "Thailand drew 2-2 with Laos and Singapore drew with the Philippines and that shows there are no easy games, these are finished.


"Thailand v Laos and Singapore v Philippines are very good lessons, that we must respect the opponents. There are no weak teams.


"We didn't predict this and I thought we could win if we played well, but 7-1 is unpredictable. The players must play a quality game.


"We had a very good spirit and that's what I'm most satisfied about."


Myanmar coach Tin Myint Aung was left ruing his players' loss of concentration, claiming that as the reason for the heavy defeat.


"I said before the game that whoever showed their best performance would win and that's why we lost," he said.


"They were organised and that's why we lost, the players were under pressure from the host team and sometimes if a team loses concentration then they can get this kind of result."

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