Indonesia Has Failed 5 Times In The AFF Cup Final, Shin Tae Yong: This Time I Want To Win

Shin Tae Yong (Photo: PSSI)

JAKARTA - The coach of the Indonesian national team, Shin Tae Yong expressed a strong determination ahead of the 2020 AFF Cup final match against Thailand tomorrow. The concocting interpreter wants the Garuda squad to become champions.

"Honestly I want (the national team) to be a champion. But lifting the trophy is something that happens not because you want it, but happens because you do your best," said Shin Tae Yong in an online press conference on Tuesday, December 28.

It is known that the Indonesian national team has qualified for the final several times but has always failed to win the title. The 2020 edition (which will be held in 2021 due to COVID-19) is the sixth final for the Garuda Squad.

Indonesia's meeting with Thailand itself is like deja vu. Because, in 2000, 2002, and 2016 AFF Cup finals, the national team also met the War Elephant Team and always failed.

Besides being beaten by Thailand three times in the final, Indonesia also failed to win against Singapore in the 2004 final and Malaysia in 2010.

Apart from that note, Shin Tae Yong said that in order to become a champion, the mentality of the players is an important thing that must be focused on. The South Korean coach believes that the Indonesian national team will win the 2020 AFF Cup if the players' mentality is strong.

"As a coach and player I have won more than 20 times. From that experience I will apply my mentality to players and try to make players become champions," said Shin Tae Yong.

"From the first match of the group stage, we have prepared mentally, the same as before this match as well. So in the final we will also prepare mentally strong in a good atmosphere. So that atmosphere will be brought to this final," he said.