“Theerathon” shared Iniesta’s advice after skillfully providing 2 assists to help the “Thailand national team” secure a ticket to the Asian Cup, earning praise from Chanathip who said it’s hard to find a replacement.
On 1 Apr 2026 GMT+7, “Theerathon Boonmatan” opened up after delivering a masterful performance with 2 assists from corner kicks, leading the Thailand national team to a narrow 2-1 victory over Turkmenistan and securing qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup final stage.
When asked by the media about the search for a new player to inherit the number one left back position from him, after “Jay” Chanathip Songkrasin, Thailand’s captain, admitted it might be difficult to find a player who can deliver accurate crosses and has a left foot like Theerathon.
Theerathon Boonmatan said, “Wow... that’s flattering. No one can truly replace anyone else. What’s important is that when you get the chance, you have to perform. When I was a youth player, I just looked up to the seniors and aimed to beat them, to become the starting left back. That’s all. Everyone has their own character, as Iniesta once taught me: no one plays exactly like someone else. The most important thing is to play in your own style, the way you’re comfortable with, and to excel at it.”
Regarding his future in the Asian Cup final, Theerathon frankly admitted he is not sure if he will be selected, as several months remain. He recalled lessons from before when some teammates who fought through the qualifiers together ultimately did not play in the final. Everything depends on form and the coach’s decision on the day.