Coach Huu Thang creates momentum for the 'spring' named Cong Phuong

(Baonghean.vn) - If we cannot help Cong Phuong maximize his potential, the U22 Vietnam team will not know who to rely on in their journey at the upcoming SEA Games.

A big question mark

Before the U23 Asian qualifiers, fans and experts began to think of other options and gradually lost patience with the talent named Nguyen Cong Phuong.

The HAGL striker has shown signs of slowing down for a long time, even though Coach Huu Thang has tried to find every "space" to give him opportunities. That makes everyone wonder, is this striker not because of any obstacle, but instead simply because of a technical limitation? A problem waiting for Coach Huu Thang to find a solution.

Cong Phuong did not dribble into the "dead" spot. Photo: Duc Dong

Cong Phuong is not like his predecessor Le Huynh Duc, who was hidden behind the shadow of Nguyen Minh Chien and became a big star in small matches. Cong Phuong's talent has not yet been able to become a big star in big matches like "child prodigy" Van Quyen. The striker born in 1995 also has plenty of opportunities to show himself, not cherishing every opportunity like Le Cong Vinh. More than anyone, Cong Phuong has all the conditions to develop, even the starting point of this Nghe An player once made people dream of becoming a pillar of the national team.

Looking at the 4 players on the U22 Vietnam attack line, the HAGL striker is still considered a "senior" compared to Ha Duc Chinh, Le Thanh Binh and Ho Tuan Tai. There was a time when Cong Phuong was arranged to play in the central midfielder position, then as a winger. But certainly Cong Phuong is not the type of striker who can solve the match when needed. Cong Phuong's personal technique and experience are superior to the other strikers in the U22 Vietnam team. That is why coach Huu Thang is still patient with his student. And there is no more debate, the most suitable position for Phuong is as an attacking midfielder or a free player.

Cong Phuong is favored and carefully cared for even though he is not in the best form, which can make him lose motivation in a highly competitive environment like football. Of course, it brings bad consequences.

Vietnamese football is lacking a striker, not just the U22 team, and if coach Huu Thang does not put his hopes on Cong Phuong, there is no other more promising player.

Looking at the world, the great strategist Alex Furguson is considered a master in similar problems. And once he has trusted a player, he always trusts to the end even though there are times when that trust is not rewarded properly.

The numbers speak for themselves.

Coach Huu Thang seems to want to put his trust in Cong Phuong until the end. The Nghe An strategist is not highly appreciated for his ability to analyze matches, but he has enough ability to win people's hearts, helping his students maximize their abilities. And at least up to this point, Coach Huu Thang is right.

In V.League 2015, Cong Phuong scored 6 goals in 22 matches. According to statistics, Cong Phuong had 13 official matches under coach Toshiya Miura. The Nghe An striker scored 4 goals in 3 matches in the U23 Asian qualifiers, 3 goals in 6 matches in the 28th SEA Games and 1 goal in the U23 Asian finals.

Coach Huu Thang spends a lot of effort to relieve his students' psychology. Photo: Duc Dong

After that, Cong Phuong scored 5 goals after 16 appearances in V.League 2017, 5 matches in J-League 2 (Japan) but never had a dangerous attack. What Cong Phuong could do under coach Huu Thang before the U23 Asian Qualifiers was 2 goals in 2 friendly matches with Indonesia and U23 Malaysia.

It was obviously a disappointment, however, in 3 matches at the U23 Asian Qualifiers, Cong Phuong also had 4 goals/3 matches with a visibly improved performance. More importantly, this was the time when Phuong's psychology and pressure were released.

SEA Games 29 will be the striker’s last Olympics. So more than ever, more than anyone else, Coach Huu Thang is the one responsible for unleashing the “spring” named Cong Phuong that has been pent up for so many years. Everyone is expecting Cong Phuong to surpass his past achievements under Coach Huu Thang.

Cong Phuong is gradually passing through the most difficult period, facing a turning point and an opportunity to renew himself. If he cannot solve the Cong Phuong problem, Coach Huu Thang will have to take some responsibility, but if he succeeds, people will have to look at the Nghe An coach with a completely different eye, with admiration.

Trung Kien