Coach Nguyen Cong Manh shares how to get points against SLNA despite playing with one less player
In the tense derby match with Song Lam Nghe An in round 4 of V.League 2025/26, Hong Linh Ha Tinh excellently earned 1 point despite having to play with one less player early on. Head coach Nguyen Cong Manh shared frankly about his players' performance and how he turned the game around.
Coach Nguyen Cong Manh said that in the match on September 21, he withdrew Viktor Le right after he scored, not because of his performance but because he had exhausted too much energy. He sent two young faces, Van Long and Quang Nam, onto the field to balance the midfield, especially in the context of SLNA adding more players with good ball control ability.
“We had to play with one less player early on, but the whole team showed a commendable spirit. The players followed the tactical requirements, especially the task of marking Olaha closely to cut off the connection on SLNA’s attack line. I highly appreciated the fighting spirit of the whole team in yesterday’s match against SLNA,” Coach Cong Manh shared.
Talking about the performance of Viktor Le, who scored for Hong Linh Ha Tinh, Coach Cong Manh said that the goal will help this young player gain more confidence. However, he also emphasized: “No player is perfect. The important thing is to always try. I, the coaching staff and the whole team are all aiming to improve every day.”
What pleased him most was not the score, but the fighting spirit: “I reminded the players that they could lose in terms of score, but not in terms of spirit. The players did that in yesterday’s match. I was very happy and appreciated their efforts.”
According to Coach Cong Manh, the players have only implemented about 60-70% of the football philosophy he has built. The core of this philosophy is proactive play, not only defending and clearing the ball but also winning the ball to continue attacking. He believes that, over time, the whole team will play more and more aggressively and control the ball better.
Evaluating his opponents, he praised SLNA: “I rate SLNA very highly. They have many potential players, even faces that can become national players in the future. I have worked with some SLNA players such as Long Vu, Quang Vinh..., they are all promising talents.”
This draw helped Hong Linh Ha Tinh affirm their resilient fighting spirit and clear development direction under coach Nguyen Cong Manh.
