Coach Nguyen Duc Thang aims high for Viettel The Cong Club
PHOTO: VIETTEL THE CONG CLUB
When he first returned to lead The Cong Viettel Club, Coach Nguyen Duc Thang faced many challenges in terms of personnel due to too many injuries to the players. However, he still led the team to overcome difficulties and make a strong comeback at the end of the 2023-2024 season.
This is a stepping stone for them to return to the V-League championship race. However, the army team also faces many challenges when they cannot retain the reigning Vietnamese Golden Ball Nguyen Hoang Duc. In an interview with Thanh Nien Newspaper, Coach Nguyen Duc Thang shared about the goals, orientations, and plans to replace Hoang Duc of The Cong Viettel Club in the new season.
Believe in "homegrown"
Reporter: After returning to the hot seat, you experienced some not-so-favorable first matches. What were the team's problems at that time? Did this put pressure on you?
Coach Nguyen Duc Thang: It is not true to say that there is no pressure. But that pressure is also within my prediction. In terms of difficulties, we are not consistent in the way we organize the game. The foreign players also do not follow the team's style of play, but we cannot replace them immediately and have to continue using them.
At that time, domestic players in the attack line were also injured such as Hoang Duc, Duc Chien, Huu Thang, Manh Dung... Their return was not synchronized, one person was there while another was absent. Foreign players were also lost. Therefore, the whole team did not have good results.
Hoang Duc will stay with Viettel The Cong Club until the end of the first leg of this season.
PHOTO: VIETTEL THE CONG CLUB
At that time, you were forced to use young players? Was this a risk?
I understand the quality of the players trained by Viettel The Cong Club. They fit my tactics and playing style. When used more, they gradually improve and have many moments of excellence, along with times when they don’t play well.
Next season, Viettel The Cong Club will continue to use many young players. Because in the past time, when I built the playing style for the whole team, they practiced a lot and gradually matured. For me, the group of young players only includes Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Cong Phuong, Nguyen Hong Phuc, Dang Tuan Phong... While Nham Manh Dung and Tran Danh Trung are at the peak of their careers. All of them will be the mainstays in the future.
It seems that you are quite confident in the quality of your domestic players. Is this a sign that The Cong Viettel Club will not be active in the transfer market in the future?
The positions I need are already filled, such as the contracts for Nguyen Minh Tung and Bui Van Duc. If we continue to transfer, we need to look for players of higher quality. We are still looking for additional players if needed.
In addition, we still have to improve the quality of training and improve the personal qualities of the players. That is why Viettel The Cong Club has added a fitness coach and a goalkeeper coach.
Khuat Van Khang in a practice match with Hanoi Club
PHOTO: VIETTEL THE CONG CLUB
So what about the plan to replace Hoang Duc?
The departure of this player is certainly a huge loss for Viettel The Cong Club. We have been preparing as soon as Hoang Duc announced that he will not continue to be associated with the military club. Currently, we have a contract with Nata, a suitable player to replace Hoang Duc.
In addition, we also have Huu Thang and Cong Phuong in the squad, not to mention the players who are on loan. After the national U.21 tournament, I will choose again and add 5 more players.
As for the option of recruiting a domestic midfielder to replace Hoang Duc, it is a bit difficult. There are not many Vietnamese players with the same quality as this national player, perhaps only a handful, but they all have "homes".
However, we do not regret much about Hoang Duc's departure. He is an excellent "product" of Viettel's The Cong training center, but in a professional football environment, we are always prepared for any shortages. Football is a collective sport, not an individual one.
V-League will be very attractive
Hoang Duc is absent and he confirmed that Viettel The Cong Club is ready. So is the team's goal to win the championship?
For The Cong Viettel Club, the goal is always to win the championship, except for the first season of promotion. But the following season, we also won the championship. In addition, The Cong Viettel team always aims to conquer the V-League throne. Tradition does not allow The Cong Viettel to stay out of the race.
Viettel Sports Club supports provinces affected by storms and floods
PHOTO: VIETTEL THE CONG CLUB
So how do you think this year's championship race will go?
Most teams already have a stable domestic squad, the important thing now is foreign players. Nam Dinh FC has the advantage of having 6 foreign players to play in the AFC Cup, including 2 who have already proven their class (Rafaelson Fernandes and Hendrio Araujo). They will be the top candidate.
Next is Hanoi Police Club. They have settled the head coach position with Mano Polking, have time to prepare, and recruit quality contracts. Hanoi Club needs quality foreign players because their domestic players are already good.
Binh Duong FC has its foundation since the time of coach Le Huynh Duc. For 2/3 of the last season, they competed for the championship and unfortunately stagnated. I believe that with coach Hoang Anh Tuan coming back, there will be changes. But whether those changes are successful or not, time will tell.
In addition, Thanh Hoa Club will also be very formidable if they soon resolve the problems with player salaries and bonuses. We should not forget how well Binh Dinh and Ho Chi Minh City Clubs played last season. In addition, Da Nang, Quang Nam, and HAGL Clubs are being invested in and actively changing. I believe the 2024-2025 V-League season will be very attractive.
Thank you!
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/sap-chia-tay-hoang-duc-clb-the-cong-viettel-van-dat-muc-tieu-vo-dich-v-league-185240912154130284.htm
Comment (0)