The coach of the Cambodia club feels intimidated by Nam Dinh’s impressive foreign player lineup.

Before the trip to Thien Truong, coach Matthew McConkey acknowledged that Svay Rieng is especially wary of the strong foreign contingent of Thep Xanh Nam Dinh in the ASEAN Club Championship.

Svay Rieng Football Club (Cambodia) will face a challenging away game at Thien Truong Stadium against Thep Xanh Nam Dinh in Group B of the 2025/26 ASEAN Club Championship. Although considered inferior in squad quality, the Cambodian team enters the match confidently, riding a remarkable unbeaten streak of seven wins at the start of the season.

Before kickoff, coach Matthew McConkey confirmed that his team is fully prepared for this challenge: “We have prepared very well for this match. Our aim is to win. We know Nam Dinh is a strong team, but so are we. I believe it will be an exciting game.”

The Northern Irish coach also revealed his concerns about the quality of Nam Dinh’s foreign players: “We have closely followed Nam Dinh’s matches in the V-League and the AFC Champions League 2. They have very powerful players, especially their foreign recruits. Therefore, I expect the upcoming match to be very tough. However, Svay Rieng will approach it like any other game, with focus and a strong desire to win.”

According to Transfermarkt statistics, Svay Rieng’s total squad value is about 3 million Euros, less than a third of Nam Dinh’s. Nevertheless, this transfer value gap does not lead to underestimation of the Cambodian side, especially as they demonstrate consistent form and fiery competitive spirit.

While Nam Dinh has recently experienced disappointing results in the V-League, Svay Rieng enters the match with a relaxed mindset and a clear goal to consolidate their top position. This sets the stage for an exciting and intense encounter at Thien Truong from the outset.

Nam Dinh is rated higher due to experience and player quality, but Svay Rieng holds an equally important advantage in confidence and winning momentum. With coach Matthew McConkey’s determined statements, the Cambodian team promises to pose significant challenges to the hosts during the upcoming 90 minutes.