The 'secret' to the success of SLNA goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh

It is worth mentioning that the captain of SLNA has just returned to the field after an injury throughout last season but has had quite impressive performances. The goalkeeper wearing the number 1 shirt of the Nghe An team is temporarily holding 2 records of V.League this season, the first is having 6/8 matches without conceding a goal. He has been voted the best player of the match once, up to now only 2 goalkeepers have received this honor.

An impressive comeback

Interestingly, the order of the teams on the rankings is Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and SLNA, but the order of the goalkeepers with the most clean sheets is in the opposite direction. Goalkeeper Nguyen Manh, with 5 clean sheets, is in first place, followed by goalkeeper Van Cong with 5 matches, goalkeeper Thanh Thang with 4 matches (and goalkeeper Tuan Linh of Than Quang Ninh also with 4 matches).

Goalkeeper Nguyen Manh, has 5 clean sheets after 8 rounds. Photo: VPF

Up to now, after 8 rounds, there are 16 goalkeepers listed in the list who have kept a clean sheet in at least 1 match. In the past 56 matches, there have been 34 times the goalkeeper has not had to pick the ball out of the net, of which SLNA has accounted for 6 times, a rather surprising number. Even before being injured in the 2016 season, Nguyen Manh only kept a clean sheet in 2/8 matches, in the 2017 season, this number was 0/8.

Of the 5 goals conceded by goalkeeper Nguyen Manh, 2 were from the pressure of Thanh Luong and Quang Hai, the remaining 3 were from set pieces, including 1 goal from the penalty spot. Even when losing 0-4 at Hang Day Stadium, SLNA's defense, including goalkeeper Nguyen Manh, did not concede any goals from counterattacks. That is a significant improvement in the defense system of the Nghe An team this season.

Except for the extremely strong home team Hanoi, scoring 4 goals in a row against goalkeeper Nguyen Manh, so far only the away team B.Binh Duong, specifically former player Le Tan Tai, has scored 1 goal against SLNA.

Goalkeeper Nguyen Manh was voted into the list of best players of the match in round 7. Photo: VPF

What makes Nguyen Manh so successful?

What made SLNA's defense and goalkeeper Nguyen Manh after 8 rounds only concede 5 goals, 6 matches without conceding a goal. First, SLNA has fundamentally changed the personnel of the defense, in which the addition of foreign center-back Damir Memović with a height of 1m91 has significantly reinforced the steel.

Damir Memović plays with determination, tenacity and is quite good at defending high balls, so SLNA's weakness in the past few seasons has been improved. Goalkeeper Nguyen Manh also does not have to struggle to defend high balls like before. Playing next to this foreign player, center back Van Khanh is much more confident, so he makes fewer mistakes. Not having to constantly jump and get caught up in the foreign striker's exhausting play, Van Khanh's physical strength is enough to play for 90 minutes.

The two wings Dinh Dong and Dinh Hoang blocked the way into goalkeeper Nguyen Manh's goal. The left wing, the inherent weakness of the Nghe An team, was basically blocked. Dinh Dong played solidly, had tricks, and rarely committed fouls near the goal.

Conceding 4 goals at Hang Day Stadium was because Dinh Hoang did not have the support of the midfielders to allow Quang Hai and Thanh Luong to overlap and exploit the flanks. Currently, the 2 full-backs do not dare to attack high for fear of exposing their flanks, especially in matches where Quang Tinh is the starter.

It is impossible not to mention the role of Van Binh as a "sweeper" in front of the central defender pair Van Khanh - Damir Memović. This midfielder plays quietly, quietly but is full of courage, cunning and even stubbornness. Besides, Olaha appears in the 16.5m area during the opponent's set-pieces, also resolving many dangerous situations.

Besides, Nguyen Manh's desire to contribute to SLNA after a long injury, along with the lessons learned after a season of sitting on the sidelines and observing, also helped this goalkeeper become more confident.