Kuala Lumpur: Having breezed into the final on the back of playing consistent, eye-catching, attacking football Malaysia have declared that they’re not about to change that approach and promised a ‘surprise’ for Vietnam in tomorrow’s first leg in Kuala Lumpur.

Even Vietnam’s coach, Park Hang-seo, was full of praise for the vibrant brand of football that Malaysia have produced – describing the first leg hosts as having the best attacking players in the tournament – and his counterpart, Tan Cheng Hoe said it will be business as usual at the Bukit Jalil Stadium tomorrow.

“We played well in Thailand and if we play with the same momentum and spirit then I’m sure we’ll be fine.

“Of course playing at home is a big advantage for us and something that we have to use to our benefit but if we keep our style of playing and play with the same belief then we can get a good result and give Vietnam a surprise.”

This will be the first meeting between the two nations in the final of the regional showpiece but they’ve been familiar foes in recent years, clashing in the semis of the 2014 edition and the group stage in both 2016 and the current tournament.

That most recent outing ended as a 2-0 win for Vietnam in Hanoi back in the third round of group stage action but for the Vietnamese coach, Park, there’s not a great deal that can be gleaned from that clash heading into the final.

“Of course, the Malaysian squad and coach are still the same but we won that game in the group stage and things will be different in the final for sure.

“I’m sure that Malaysia has prepared well to find our weakness and we have also done the same to find ways that we can expose their weakness but we’ve prepared well and are ready to overcome what will be a difficult challenge.