Goalkeeper Nguyen Filip explains lonely moment at AFF Cup 2024

(Dan Tri) - Goalkeeper Nguyen Filip once made many Vietnamese football fans feel worried after the moment he sat alone on the bench at the AFF Cup 2024.

"There is no sadness here, everyone. This is simply my habit before every match, whether I can play or not. Wishing everyone a happy weekend, goalkeeper Nguyen Filip shared on his personal page on January 11 to end rumors and speculations about his future in the Vietnam national team after the AFF Cup 2024.

Accordingly, in his first time participating in the AFF Cup, the overseas Vietnamese goalkeeper is expected to be the number one stopper in the Vietnamese team's goal.

However, the 32-year-old goalkeeper only started in 2 matches against the Philippines and Indonesia. In the remaining 6 matches, coach Kim Sang Sik chose goalkeeper Nguyen Dinh Trieu in goal.

Not chosen as the number one goalkeeper, Nguyen Filip was often seen by the media sitting alone in the training cabin before the match with a not-so-happy mood.

However, Nguyen Filip explained that it was his habit before each match, which he illustrated with a similar image when he sat alone in the cabin during the match between Hanoi Police Club (CAHN) and Kaya Lioilo on January 9.

The 32-year-old goalkeeper joined CAHN Club in June 2023 and will start playing for the Vietnamese national team in January 2024 at the Asian Cup. It is known that the contract between Nguyen Filip and CAHN Club still has 1.5 years left.

Notably, after winning the AFF Cup with the Vietnamese team, Nguyen Filip has also made plans for the future. Responding to the Czech press, the goalkeeper born in 1992 wants to try his hand at major tournaments in Asia and return to the Czech Republic before ending his career.

"If I have the chance, I want to try my hand at another better tournament in Asia, Japan or Korea. Playing in the Asian Championship and then returning to the Czech Republic when my career ends is the motivation for me to continue to strive to improve myself every day," Nguyen Filip told iDNEs ( Czech Republic) .