Anthony Hudson defended his decision to rotate Thailand's lineup after a 2-1 defeat by the Philippines in their final FIFA ASEAN Cup group match. VnExpress reported that Thailand had already secured a place in the final, allowing the coach to rest regular starters. Hudson said he was disappointed by the result but wanted his key players fresh for the title match against Indonesia on October 5. His explanation is the coach's assessment, rather than proof that rotation alone caused the defeat.