TP HCM Club's midfield is "patchwork".

In Round 17 of the V-League 2024-2025, Ho Chi Minh City FC will host Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) at Thong Nhat Stadium at 7:15 PM on April 6th (FPT Play).

The home team had been held to a draw by their opponents in the first leg and were depleted of players before the return match.

In the V-League standings, Ho Chi Minh City FC is currently ranked 10th with 19 points, 6 points ahead of the two bottom teams. Coach Phung Thanh Phuong's team could break into the top 6 if they beat SLNA in round 17, but they will also drop in the rankings if they lose. Previously, the "red battleship" suffered a 1-3 defeat at Tam Ky Stadium against Quang Nam in round 16.

Ho Chi Minh City FC is determined to win 3 points in round 17 to increase their chances of avoiding relegation. Photo: VPF

Before round 17, coach Phùng Thanh Phương lost two key players due to suspensions: defender Trần Mạnh Cường and midfielder Endrick Dos Santos. This duo contributed significantly to helping Ho Chi Minh City FC secure important points, and are two of the three top scorers for the team this season.

There are many options to fill the position left vacant by Mạnh Cường, but finding a suitable replacement for Endrick's role as the "orchestrator" in midfield is a difficult problem for coach Phùng Thanh Phương. Endrick also has diverse finishing abilities when assisting in attacks.

Currently, Nguyen Thanh Khoi's skill level allows him to play as a central midfielder in the Ho Chi Minh City FC squad. Despite being only 1.65m tall, Thanh Khoi possesses excellent stamina and consistently contributes to both attack and defense. When positioned in midfield, Thanh Khoi becomes a versatile "sweeper," strong in tackling, recovering the ball, and intercepting from afar.

Thanh Khoi is a product of the Hoang Anh Gia Lai training academy, possessing an intelligent playing style, modern tactical vision, and creative passing ability. Wearing the U19 and U23 Vietnam jerseys, Thanh Khoi also shone with memorable goals.

However, his unremarkable appearance put the player from Hue at a disadvantage compared to his colleagues when competing for a starting spot. Therefore, when Thanh Khoi joined Ho Chi Minh City FC at the end of 2022, the midfielder had to play in a position that was not his forte, getting used to the role of supporting defensive play from afar.

In the 2023-2024 season, Thanh Khoi played 20 matches in the V-League, including 16 starts. This season, the 23-year-old player has consistently been trusted by coach Phung Thanh Phuong to start the game.

SLNA is experiencing a resurgence under coach Phan Như Thuật. In their last five matches, SLNA has won three, drawn one, and suffered only one defeat against hosts Bình Dương. Coach Phan Như Thuật's team also surprised everyone by reaching the semi-finals of the National Cup. This significant boost in morale will motivate the Nghệ An team to confidently face Ho Chi Minh City FC in a crucial "six-point" match.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/tuyen-giua-clb-tp-hcm-chap-va-196250405211857927.htm