As the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ edges toward its decisive phase, pressure is mounting across Southeast Asia’s biggest clubs. For Nguyễn Quang Hải, that pressure isn’t something to shy away from — it’s something to embrace.

The Công An Hà Nội FC midfielder knows exactly what’s at stake. With his team sitting fourth in Group A after three matches, the margins are tight and the room for error is slim. Two defining fixtures lie ahead: a tough away trip to Selangor FC, followed by a crucial home clash against group leaders Tampines Rovers FC.

For Quang Hải, the message is simple: focus, belief, and collective effort.

“We’ve been giving our maximum effort in every match,” he says. “But the results haven’t fully reflected what we want yet. That’s why the upcoming games are so important — they’re decisive.”

At 28, Quang Hải has reached a stage in his career where experience shapes perspective. He speaks less about flair and more about discipline, review, and learning — the quiet habits that define elite athletes behind the scenes.

“The team will look back carefully at each game, take the lessons, and move forward,” he explains. “If we want to qualify, there’s only one way — everyone has to stay fully focused and collect as many points as possible, especially at home.”

Since returning to Vietnam in June 2023 after a brief stint in France with Ligue 2 side Pau FC, Quang Hải has become a cornerstone of the Công An Hà Nội project. Last season, he played a key role in the club’s impressive run to the Shopee Cup™ final, scoring once and making nine appearances along the way.

That journey ended in heartbreak — a dramatic penalty shootout loss to Thailand’s Buriram United — a moment that still lingers.

“When you get that close, it stays with you,” he admits.

Last season, Công An Hà Nội cruised through the group stage with confidence and momentum. This year, the challenge has been sharper. Opponents are better prepared, and every match feels like a test.

“Teams know us now,” Quang Hải says candidly. “They prepare more carefully. So we have to keep improving — tactically, mentally, and as a group.”

Despite the pressure, Quang Hải sees value in the difficulty. Competing against the strongest clubs in the region has become a classroom of sorts — one where lessons are learned the hard way.

“These matches give us real experience,” he says. “Not just individually, but as a team. It strengthens our cohesion and helps us grow.”

This season’s Shopee Cup™ has raised the bar, with quality reinforcements across clubs making every fixture unpredictable and intense. For Quang Hải, that’s exactly what makes it exciting.

“When the competition gets tougher, you learn more,” he reflects. “And those lessons are extremely valuable.”

Recognition has followed him along the way. Quang Hải was named Shopee Star of the Match in the first leg of last season’s final in Hanoi — a reminder of his influence on the biggest stage.

But personal accolades aren’t the end goal. “If we’re given another chance to fight for the championship,” he says, “we won’t let it slip away.”

As crunch time approaches, Nguyễn Quang Hải isn’t promising miracles — just hard work, focus, and belief in the process. In tournaments like these, that mindset can be the difference between falling short and lifting silverware.

And for Công An Hà Nội FC, the journey is far from over.

Photo Credit: SPORTFIVE

Further details regarding match schedules, venues and kick-off times will be announced on Friday, January 16. Fans can follow updates year-round via ASEANUtdFC.com and the official @aseanutdfc social media channels.