If you're going to play football, you have to be passionate.

(Baonghean) - Despite being known for their aggressive, rough style of play, SLNA has not been among the teams receiving the most yellow cards in recent years. However, abandoning their traditional style of play means the team from Nghe An has lost its inherent strength and fiery spirit.

Teams in the early 2000s were all wary of facing SLNA. Unlike the short-passing, quick-combination style of Thep MN - Cang SG, and lacking the military discipline of The Cong, the Nghe An team always possessed a formidable weapon: their fighting spirit and fierce determination. And especially, their unpredictable style of play relied on inspiration rather than a clear, textbook strategy.

Coach Nguyen Huu Thang, considered an icon and source of inspiration for Nghe An football, has repeatedly stated: "Football has no place for timid people. At SLNA, there is no place for players without spirit. No matter how good a player is, if they lack fighting spirit, they will certainly be eliminated."

SLNA players are known for their fierce and passionate spirit.

Throughout their journey to establish themselves in Vietnamese football, SLNA's strength and weapon have been built upon a solid defense. It's easy to name the "leaders" in the back line who play with fiery intensity; tackles and overhead kicks are trademarks of the Nghe An team, such as Quang Hai, Huu Thang, Van Luu, Sy Son, Huy Hoang, Dinh Dong, and more recently, Que Ngoc Hai.

Every time Que Ngoc Hai takes to the field, he shows his fiery spirit and willingness to engage in physical challenges, even in matches following his return after a suspension.

In the era of our predecessors, "brutal and aggressive play" was just a name given to this style of play, and as generations of SLNA head coaches explained: "Brutal and aggressive play means playing with passion on the field, giving your all, throwing yourself into every challenge, and being fierce in every tackle, which is completely different from intentionally trying to injure the opponent."

Also during this period, almost no accidents like the one involving Tran Anh Khoa and Que Ngoc Hai occurred. This was partly because the younger generation of SLNA players had not yet fully mastered the professional skills and experience in tackling and scissor kicks.

Clearly, football is a competitive game, and dedication and commitment should be encouraged, especially at SLNA. More importantly, to be able to "fight tooth and nail" in the truest sense of the word is not easy without talent, composure, or years of experience.

Many SLNA players have been penalized with points suspensions recently.

In a way, "brutal and decisive" also demonstrates unity and cohesion in gameplay or a focus on defense that weakens the opponent.

Now, after a series of penalty points imposed on the team, SLNA has almost abandoned its traditional playing style. As a consequence, the players from Nghe An are gradually losing their "fire" in competition.

Furthermore, the new rules and the Vietnam Football Federation's implementation have made all Vietnamese players wary of their colleagues' footwork, a fact most noticeable among SLNA players.

SLNA will undoubtedly be a formidable opponent for any team if they continue to play their traditional style, where each player is like a warrior. In return, the players and coaches will have to accept pressure from public opinion, opposing fans, and even referees and the disciplinary committee if they make a mistake even for a split second.

For fans from Nghe An province in particular, we support and look forward to seeing SLNA play with a distinctive style, or at least the passion and dedication we once saw in our predecessors Huu Thang and Huy Hoang.

Hoai Hoan