Give Cong Phuong more chances

(Baonghean.vn) - Before the AFC Cup 2016, public opinion talked a lot about Coach Huu Thang favoring Phi Son and Trong Hoang, but now Trong Hoang has shone. People are skeptical about the scoring ability of Cong Phuong, another captain from Nghe An?

I like the way Mourinho uses new midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan. In the big match against Arsenal at Old Trafford, Mourinho only briefly told the press: "I told him before the match that this match is not for him. I don't think it's necessary for Mkhitaryan to be on the pitch for 10 or 20 minutes from the bench."

Cong Phuong (middle) still needs time to mature.

Huu Thang is using Cong Phuong in the same way that Mourinho is using the Armenian midfielder. People have criticized coach Huu Thang a lot for keeping Cong Phuong on the bench for 90 minutes in the match against host Myanmar. Why did Vietnam's attack play so poorly and the coaching staff did not let the "youngster" enter the field? The answer was made clear in the second match against Malaysia, when Cong Phuong entered the field from the 62nd minute.

Obviously, compared to the match against host Myanmar, the match against Malaysia is more comfortable, even a draw is still an acceptable result. But in the end, Cong Phuong can only show so much. So "forcing it to ripen" and rushing to put Cong Phuong in decisive matches, it might be a "burnt rice, burnt rice". Compared to Thanh Luong, Van Toan, Cong Vinh, Cong Phuong is rated lower, not a decisive factor in big matches.

More than anyone, Coach Huu Thang knows the speed, dexterity and signature finishing of the Nghe An striker. But the coaching staff also knows that experience in the field, especially in confrontations with the opposing goalkeeper, and the pressure from the opposing defenders' tough plays are Cong Phuong's weaknesses.

To become a great player, Cong Phuong must know how to seize opportunities.

In fact, when given the opportunity to enter the field, Cong Phuong had 2 situations where he was "prepared" when facing goalkeeper Kharul but both were unsuccessful. Obviously, the AFC Cup is far different from the U19 tournaments that Cong Phuong has participated in and this player has not done much, missing the opportunity to assert his role.

In the past two years, Cong Phuong has been good at grooming and dressing, creating his own style through his beard and hair, but on the field, there has been no change. In 30 minutes on the field, he played quite blandly, not only the audience but Cong Phuong himself knew that. But his teammates did not blame Cong Phuong, the coaching board even less… if anything, it was the audience, because they loved and admired Cong Phuong too much, then they were disappointed!

It can be affirmed that Cong Phuong still has to strive a lot to have the influence and killer ability like his senior Cong Vinh. But with his confirmed talent, Huu Thang will use this young player at decisive moments. The future lies ahead, if he knows how to seize the opportunity, I believe that Cong Phuong will shine.

N@T