Since returning to Viettel FC in December 2022, what has coach Thach Bao Khanh done? He put his faith in domestic players and gave some opportunities to young talents. He tried to build a team that adheres to the philosophy of beautiful play, dedication and discipline to meet the trust of fans. However, life is not like a dream. Viettel FC has only won 3 matches, drawn 6 and lost 2, scoring 11 goals and conceding 10 goals in 11 matches. Viettel FC won matches that few people thought they would win, but drew and lost matches that they were expected to win. Sometimes watching Viettel FC this season, fans feel monotonous and lacking in breakthroughs.

Coach Thach Bao Khanh.

Viettel FC's goal of entering the top 3 and competing for the 2023 V-League championship is becoming more and more distant. Although ranked 5th on the rankings, Viettel FC's score is equal to the 8th ranked team, Thep Xanh Nam Dinh (both with 15 points). In the last two matches of the first phase of V-League 2023, Viettel FC will meet Becamex Binh Duong and Ho Chi Minh City Club - two teams that are worried about relegation. Therefore, no one can guarantee that the army team will win these two matches.

If Viettel FC does not make it into the top 8 after the first phase, will coach Thach Bao Khanh be able to keep his seat? In theory, a team that is “strong because of rice, bold because of money” and has a lot of ambition like Viettel FC will find it difficult to accept the prospect of having to worry about relegation. But in terms of emotion, coach Thach Bao Khanh is still loved by the board of directors and his students. Moreover, coach Thach is promoting the role of young players well in the context that Viettel FC owns many talents who have affirmed their value at the national team level such as: Nham Manh Dung, Tran Danh Trung, Nguyen Huu Thang, Nguyen Thanh Binh, Phan Tuan Tai, Khuat Van Khang.

There was a time when Viettel FC's leadership was determined to only use "homegrown" players, but the plan was ruined by the harshness of the V-League. After the rather quiet 2023 V-League transfer season, the goal of using many talents trained by Viettel FC itself became even more difficult. Recently, the army team added foreign player Mohamed Essam, a former teammate of star Mohamed Salah at Arab Contractors FC, with the hope of improving their performance.

If Viettel FC finishes in the top 8 after the first phase of V-League 2023, it will be a great thing. But if the army team has to compete to avoid relegation in the second phase, the future of coach Thach Bao Khanh will be uncertain. If Viettel FC is not careful, they will apply the old trick of seeking luck from the technical director, or even the Deputy Director of Viettel Sports Center Nguyen Hai Bien can personally hold the sand table. In football, no one can predict anything and Viettel FC fans will hold their breath waiting for the results of the next two matches.

HOA LU