Duy Manh sent a message to Xuan Son before the match against Laos
Do Duy Manh emphasized Xuan Son's professionalism and desire before the Vietnam national team moved to Laos to participate in the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup; the executive committee remained the same for FIFA Days in November.
On the afternoon of November 14 in Viet Tri (Phu Tho), right before the last training session and the plan to travel to Laos on the morning of November 15, captain Do Duy Manh sent a clear message to Nguyen Xuan Son: professionalism and desire are the keys to the striker's return to the Vietnamese team. The whole team is looking forward to the match against the host team on November 19 in the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup.
Captain's message: discipline, desire and Xuan Son's return date
One of the highlights of the training session was the return of striker Nguyen Xuan Son after nearly a year of absence due to injury. Sharing about his teammate, Do Duy Manh said: “Everyone knows Xuan Son’s ability. He is a good striker, with good scoring ability. Son and I often talk and encourage each other during training. He is very professional and is showing a great desire to contribute to the Vietnam team.”
The captain of the Vietnamese team also recounted his teammate's feelings: "Son shared that what he misses the most is the feeling of being on the field. For a player, having to leave the field is terrible. But in every training session, we clearly see that nostalgia and determination shown by Son through his relentless efforts."
Vietnam National Team's preparation framework before the match on November 19
The training session in Viet Tri (Phu Tho) is the final stop in the plan before the Vietnamese team moves to Laos on the morning of November 15. Here, the spirit and training pace are maintained positively according to the staff. The match with the host team takes place on November 19, in the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup.
Personnel decisions: captaincy and vice-captains
According to the announcement from the Vietnam Football Federation, Coach Kim Sang Sik continues to trust and give the captaincy of the Vietnam team in FIFA Days in November to Do Duy Manh, preparing for the match against Laos. Accompanying Duy Manh in the Executive Committee are two vice-captains Quang Hai and Hoang Duc.
Previously in October, when Quang Hai was not present, Vietnamese-American player Cao Pendant Quang Vinh was assigned the position of vice-captain by the Korean strategist. From the AFF Cup 2024 until now, Do Duy Manh has been trusted in the role of leader, taking on the task of connecting the dressing room and being the spiritual support for the whole team.
Xuan Son's return: internal sentiment and expectations
Xuan Son’s return after nearly a year of injury interruptions requires two things: stable physical condition and competitive feeling. From what the captain shared, the leadership team recognized two fundamental factors in this striker — personal discipline and competitive desire — demonstrated throughout each training session. That is the basis for the coaching staff and teammates to expect his contributions in the upcoming period.
Background before departure
The Vietnamese team's preparation pace in the past few days has been positive, as noted in the statement before the training session. Volume and intensity have been maintained continuously, aiming to stabilize the squad and spirit before the away trip to Laos. A clear schedule (training on November 14, travel on the morning of November 15, competition on November 19) allows the whole team to control their biological rhythm and recovery well.
Highlights from internal messages
The captain’s words to Xuan Son — “very professional” and “hungry” — show the level of commitment from the individual player as well as the mutual support in the dressing room. In the context of international competition, which requires discipline and mental readiness, these values are often the foundation for a team to operate consistently through each FIFA Days.
The team is currently finalizing its executive committee, maintaining its preparation schedule and heading towards the match on November 19 with a collective consensus on its goals. The return of Xuan Son, along with the message from the captain, is a notable detail in that process.
