Ho Chi Minh City Police Club before Shopee Cup 2026-2027 opener: What did Arthur Diles say ahead of Ratchaburi FC?

Ho Chi Minh City Police Club entered their opening Group A match of the Shopee Cup 2026-2027 against Ratchaburi FC in Thailand as a regional newcomer. It is the first time the club has competed in a Southeast Asian tournament, a milestone for the team and the city. Before the match, head coach Arthur Diles and striker Jason Cummings spoke to the media about their goals, squad situation and mentality. Arthur Diles said Ho Chi Minh City Police Club would play proactive, fearless attacking football regardless of the opponent or venue. He stressed that the team must show fighting spirit, confidence and courage away to Ratchaburi FC. According to him, football is never calm, so the squad must stay focused and united. Diles revealed the club had about eight weeks of preparation, during which the coaching staff worked on style, fitness and cohesion. Diles admitted that adapting to many new players is a big challenge, especially with four key players absent on national-team duty for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. Ho Chi Minh City Police Club will not have a full-strength squad. The four absentees are important members, likely in the defensive and midfield spine. Diles did not hide the difficulty but said the remaining players are eager to perform. In addition to the missing internationals, some foreign players have not played at the start of the domestic season. This suggests the Shopee Cup 2026-2027 may be used for rotation, experimentation and opportunities for fringe players. The approach could help manage fitness and increase internal competition. Diles also praised the club’s young talents, calling the squad strong and deep. Jason Cummings expressed respect for Ratchaburi FC, describing them as a very strong team with a quality coaching staff. However, he said Ho Chi Minh City Police Club are in the tournament to aim for the championship, not merely to participate. Cummings joined the club this season and has become a focal point. Transfermarkt values him at 650,000 euros, the highest in the squad, indicating his importance but also the club’s modest regional budget. The match against Ratchaburi FC is a difficult test. Ratchaburi FC play in Thai League, which generally has higher financial and squad quality than V.League 1. Playing away in Thailand adds to the challenge, especially with missing players and a new squad still gelling. Still, experts believe the historic first regional appearance gives Ho Chi Minh City Police Club extra motivation and commercial exposure. Tactically, Arthur Diles did not reveal a specific formation. His comments described intent rather than a defined system. There is no xG, PPDA or possession data available yet. The club is in a transition phase: new players, unused foreign players and four absent key men. This may affect cohesion in the opener. If the team struggles early, psychological pressure could grow against a stronger opponent. Diles’ public emphasis on difficulty is a reasonable way to manage expectations, while Cummings’ title target raises ambition. This soft-hard expectation split is common before high-uncertainty openers. Financially, the Shopee Cup brings possible prize money, sponsorship and media exposure, but also travel, squad depth and scheduling costs. The four national-team call-ups are a standard FIFA-window obligation, not a governance risk. In the dressing room, the absence of four key players may create a temporary leadership vacuum. New and young players must step up. Cummings, as the highest-valued attacker, is expected to lead the line, but over-dependence on one player is a risk. Overall, Ho Chi Minh City Police Club face many challenges but also carry historic motivation, ambition and a proactive attacking philosophy into their regional debut.