Coach Le Thuy Hai: 'V-League still has many things to think about'

V-League 2015 ended with many events, Coach Le Thuy Hai affirmed that there were many things that made him worried and at the same time the managers of the country's football had to think about.

* What impressed and unimpressed you about the 2015 V-League season?

- What impressed me most this season was that B.Binh Duong successfully defended the championship. We often say that winning the championship is difficult, but keeping the title is even more difficult. Not many teams can do that and this is the second time B.Binh Duong has done this. Another impression is that HAGL used young players from the Academy to play in the V-League and received a lot of support. After that, HAGL had some difficult times but I am very happy that they finally overcame them.

No team has successfully defended the title of defending champion twice like B.Binh Duong. Photo: Tuan Pham

But there are also aspects that I find lacking in this season, such as violence on the pitch. The press has reported that SLNA is one of the teams that receives the fewest penalty cards, which is very contradictory. People do not conclude that teams that receive many yellow cards and red cards are usually weak or average teams.

Because in a match they can drag out time, throw the ball illegally, or use their hands to play the ball, all of which are yellow cards. That's what weak teams usually do, and if we have to summarize, we have to do it thoroughly and closely.

Another thing that exists is that in the text I have never seen a precedent and read that a player who injures another player must pay for the treatment costs. In principle, coaches like me should be able to read such documents to disseminate to athletes, but I have not had the opportunity.

Coach Le Thuy Hai may return to coach in V-League 2016. Photo: Dang Nguyen

I would like to mention the case of Que Ngoc Hai. And the disciplinary suspension of 6 months for this player is like no discipline at all. The more I see the activities of VFF, the Disciplinary Board are more and more far from the reality of Vietnamese football. If so, will Vietnamese football improve? Those are the things I see that are still troubling and we have to ask questions.

Disciplinary action must have a real deterrent effect, do not treat unfairly because the player is good, he is the captain of the U23 or national team. Que Ngoc Hai's tackle like that was malicious, hitting the player's leg before entering the ball, that is completely against the rules. In that case, there was nothing dangerous, the match was not tense, the opposing player was not good but still committed such a serious foul, it must be disciplined, it cannot be tolerated, even if after the incident he felt remorseful, regretful, and went to the scene to apologize.

This incident could have been suspended for 5 or 7 matches, but a 6-month suspension and saying it was according to the specific rules is not appropriate. FIFA is in charge, this is not a spontaneous organization. You have to enforce the rules at FIFA, you can't say that in Vietnam there are specific rules like this.

* In your opinion, is B.Binh Duong's championship convincing, is Dong Nai's relegation a surprise?

- B.Binh Duong deserved to win the championship because they got 52 points, 6 points more than the second-placed team, Ha Noi T&T. The only sad thing about this year's V-League is that no team is chasing the championship with B.Binh Duong and the tournament is only dramatic in the lower groups.

As for Dong Nai, Mr. Su is a veteran coach but his emotional statements are not appropriate. He is a veteran coach so he needs to make accurate and precise statements, but just speaking in general terms like that is not good. He said this team and that team colluded but without evidence, anyone can say it and people will think he is bitter and angry.

* Many people say that B.Binh Duong's defense of the championship title has a big mark of Mr. Hai "lo"?

- Don't let the past overwhelm you. I have been a champion for many years and this year, from the preparation stage until I left, the team is still leading the rankings, but I am not the one who decides everything and must find out why B.Binh Duong won the championship? First, they have money. Second, they have good players. The conditions, stadium, and regime make the players comfortable and have spectators. B.Binh Duong also has spectators with a well-functioning fan club, always attached to the team.

At the same time, B.Binh Duong chose a good coach. Mr. Mai Duc Chung is one of the coaches with achievements and prestige, although in V-League he has not achieved anything formidable. Actually, I am very happy because without me, B.Binh Duong still won the championship. The players are always united and they play for themselves, for the leaders who pay salaries and give bonuses, not for Mr. Hai or anyone else. If you say whether Mr. Hai contributed or not, let everyone judge.

* So can we expect the return of coach Le Thuy Hai in V-League 2016?

- I don't know yet. But I have to have the right to do my job when I go to work. If a place doesn't give me the right, I don't like that place. When people really need me, to do my job, and satisfy both sides, then I will accept. But I do it because of my passion and with the desire to make Vietnamese football better.

* Thank you!

According to TT&VH