Ong Kim Swee Suggests Man United Should Face Indonesia Instead of ASEAN All-Stars

According to Bolasport.com, Ong Kim Swee, former Malaysia national team coach and now manager of Persis Solo, believes that Manchester United should face the Indonesia national team instead of the ASEAN All-Stars in their upcoming friendly.

The match between Manchester United and a combined ASEAN All-Stars side is scheduled to take place at Bukit Jalil Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, in two weeks. The regional squad will be led by Kim Sang-sik, head coach of the Vietnam national team.

Player availability issues raise concerns

The ASEAN All-Stars’ preparation has been less than ideal. The player roster remains incomplete and is subject to frequent changes. Adding to the concern, Malaysia, as the host nation, has yet to confirm whether it will release its players for the match.

This hesitation stems from two main concerns:

1. Malaysia’s focus on preparation for their important 2027 Asia Cup Qualification match against Vietnam.

2. Strategic concerns—revealing team tactics to Kim Sang-sik, who will manage the All-Stars but also lead Vietnam, Malaysia’s future opponent.

For these reasons, Ong Kim Swee suggests that the Indonesia national team would be a more stable and competitive opponent for Manchester United, providing a more meaningful match experience for both sides.