Coach Kim Sang-sik's bold decision to choose a captain

Coach Kim Sang-sik chooses new captain

Although he has only been coaching the Vietnamese team for half a year, coach Kim Sang-sik has given the honor of wearing the captain's armband to... 4 players. They are Do Hung Dung, Nguyen Tien Linh, Que Ngoc Hai and currently Do Duy Manh.

Thus, just like under coach Philippe Troussier, the captain's armband has been passed around constantly. This is understandable because during the transition period, no one is untouchable. Any player can start and vice versa.

Under coach Kim Sang-sik, the competition was even fiercer. Let's look at the details: Mr. Kim was willing to remove both captains Ngoc Hai and Hung Dung, because they did not meet the criteria of fitness and performance.

Duy Manh is the captain of the Vietnam team.

However, the decision to give the captain's armband to Duy Manh was still a surprise. The 1996-born midfielder has not played regularly in the past 4 years due to injury. From 2018 to the end of 2019, Duy Manh played 45 matches in the V-League. But after a ligament injury in the match between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in the 2019 National Super Cup (held in January 2020), the 28-year-old midfielder could no longer maintain a consistent playing schedule. The 2023-2024 season will be the first time in 5 years that Duy Manh has reached 20 matches in the V-League.

Similarly, in the national team, Duy Manh has only played... 5 matches since the beginning of 2023. He was not a key player when coach Troussier was in charge, and when Mr. Kim took his place, Duy Manh was not used regularly.

So what is the reason that coach Kim Sang-sik chose Duy Manh as captain?

The first factor is still experience. When Ngoc Hai and Hung Dung were not called up, Duy Manh became one of the most experienced national players remaining in the Vietnam team. Duy Manh and Quang Hai are the two remaining starters in the second leg of the AFF Cup 2018 final who will continue to participate in the AFF Cup 2024.

Nearly 7 years after the miracle in Thuong Chau, Duy Manh has experienced many changes such as injuries, mistakes... but still returned.

The captain's armband was transferred from Ngoc Hai to Duy Manh.

Second, most head coaches choose a captain who plays in the defense or central midfield, because this is a position that requires comprehensive vision and coordination. The captain's armband has been given to Ngoc Hai (center back) and Hung Dung (midfielder) as examples.

Compared to Quang Hai, Duy Manh is better at cheering and encouraging his teammates. Quang Hai is a quiet and reserved leader, while Duy Manh is more "harsh" and enthusiastic in communication. In the eyes of coach Kim, a player who is good at cheering like Duy Manh is more suitable for the role of captain.

Finally, according to a former player, the captain of the Vietnamese team must be "bloody", know how to inspire team spirit and play with all his might. During the training trip to Korea, Duy Manh convinced coach Kim Sang-sik thanks to his passionate playing style and fiery fighting spirit. The last-minute goal against Jeonbuk is an example, which made Mr. Kim boldly put his trust in him.

Challenge

Duy Manh has the advantage in disputes, a fierce and aggressive playing style. However, he has made many mistakes because of his overly "enthusiastic" playing style, causing his team to concede a penalty.

Duy Manh needs courage and alertness

For example, in the match against Oman in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Duy Manh's extra arm swung into his opponent's face. When VAR entered the football game, even the smallest tricks were easily punished.

However, Duy Manh has changed. Last season, the 28-year-old central defender played 20 matches, but did not receive any penalty cards. Compared to his younger days, Duy Manh is calmer and more restrained. That is also what Mr. Kim wants from his students: fiery but still calm, a hot heart must go with a cool head.

Putting the past behind him, hopefully Duy Manh will perform well as captain. Play with more responsibility, courage and toughness, to create a solid wall to protect the Vietnam team.

Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024 is broadcast live and in full on FPT Play, at: http://fptplay.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/quyet-dinh-chon-doi-truong-tao-bao-cua-hlv-kim-sang-sik-185241207144746168.htm