Coach Nguyen Huu Thang: 'I don't avoid it. I accept the rules of the game'

(Baonghean.vn) - After returning from Malaysia, Coach Nguyen Huu Thang immediately returned to his hometown Nghe An and first of all, he spent time with his family. Nghe An Newspaper had a quick interview with this coach.

PV: After a period of leading the national team and U22 Vietnam at SEA Games 29, how do you evaluate the quality of the current generation of players and looking back at the failure of U22 Vietnam, can you point out the cause?

In my personal opinion, this is the most talented generation of Vietnamese football players ever. I want to emphasize here that the character and ethics of the players are the best I have ever known.

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The reason for the failure of U22 Vietnam was analyzed by a meeting organized by VFF. I just want to say one thing, we need to reform the whole football. Everything, from thinking to doing, training, especially the need to improve the physical strength of Vietnamese players to a higher level. Each club must have a real physical expert so that the national team does not have to worry about physical strength anymore.

Currently, there are no real fitness experts in the clubs, which has caused the physical foundation of Vietnamese players to still have to catch up with those in Southeast Asia.

PV: Many opinions say that the failure of U22 Vietnam came from the tactics and strategies of the head coach, especially in the loss to U22 Thailand. What do you think about this comment?

I always have a very progressive mindset and never be conservative, not admitting my mistakes. However, each coach has a different way of training and using people, and I am no exception. All opinions are just each person's own feelings, when the match ends not as expected. They have the right to say this, say that. I am still the one with the highest responsibility. I lead the players, I understand them and I come up with a certain formation and strategy after many consultations with the coaching staff.

The U22 Vietnam coaching staff and I have to choose the most suitable lineup for the team's playing style and for the match. But what can we do? When the match doesn't go as expected, everyone has the right to express their opinions. I am still responsible for what I do and for the players. We just do our best, without fear of making mistakes!

I think public opinions and contributions are good because they also show their affection for the team. But anyway, I am still the one responsible for everything. When we succeed, the joy is shared equally by everyone, but when we fail and things do not go as expected, the head coach and players have to endure a lot of bad rumors. That is the rule of football. I do not avoid it, I accept the rules of the game, accept everything.

Coach Nguyen Huu Thang often plays football with the SLNA veteran team. Photo: Trung Kien

PV: The players and fans were very surprised and regretful about your decision to resign right after the loss to U22 Thailand. Can you tell us why you made this decision?

I believe that it was the right decision for me. Sometimes in life there are many things that do not go as planned, but with my own honor and professional honor, I think the decision to resign is reasonable.

Maybe many others will decide differently, because having gone, happy, sad, achieved and not achieved, the whole team has been together. The members of the team are very united, that is what I really like. It is a pity, but what can I do, it cannot be otherwise. I have to accept the game. I still regret that what I have done for the team is not much, there are still plans and dreams that have not been achieved. But for the sake of honor, I have to accept that.

PV: After resigning, how do you feel now?

I'm still very happy. Because besides the insults, besides the words that put the players' families and my family in a position of being criticized, looked at with unsympathetic eyes... there are still many genuine audiences, they share, they still believe in us.

The real audience makes me and the players feel motivated to correct mistakes, so that in the future everything can be better. That is something I am very happy about, because not everyone turns their backs on us.

The fans have always supported U22 and the national team, and have always given me a lot of motivation to enter the matches in the past 2 years. There are failures, there are wins, there are losses. But all of them are the ones who make me, my players, every time they step on the field, proud to wear the national flag.

Once again, on behalf of the whole team as head coach, I would like to apologize to all the fans because the SEA Games did not achieve the expected results.

The Nghe An military leader wants to make up for the stressful days by spending time with his family. Photo: Trung Kien

PV: After resigning as head coach of the Vietnam National Team and U22, there are many rumors that you will return to SLNA or lead HAGL Club. Can you "reveal" a little bit about your future plans?

After going through stressful days, the most important thing for me now is my family. The lack of results at the SEA Games and public opinion in recent days have put a lot of pressure on my family.

I can't say anything yet, but I will definitely stick with football in the future. My studies and qualifications are still unfinished and I need to complete the "Pro" coaching course organized by the Asian Football Confederation - AFC and finish at the end of this year. The time leading the national team has given me valuable lessons and experiences, I will definitely return to work and try harder.

Trung Kien