Coach Park Hang-seo speaks frankly about salary reduction and goals in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers

Purpose of U22 Vietnam concentration

“This is the second training session, last time we only had 2 days, this time it is 10 days. So, taking this opportunity, we can test the ability, personality and integration ability of the 47 players. We do not have all the information about some people, so this time, the most important goal is to test them,” said the Korean coach.

Focus all your efforts on the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers

“This year’s U22 Vietnam and next year’s U23 Vietnam will participate in the SEA Games and the U23 Asian Qualifiers, so their schedules are very tight. Now is not the time to determine the goals of the U22 Vietnam team at the SEA Games. We will do it step by step and strive to achieve maximum results.

The national team has 3 matches left, the Vietnam team has never made it to the final round of the World Cup Qualifiers so I am putting all my efforts into achieving this result. Next year, the AFF Cup can be played from April to May 2021, so the schedule will be very tight. The work schedule overlaps a lot so we will have to try our best.

Coach Park Hang-seo is ready to answer all questions after a long absence. Photo: Hai Hoang

Once again, I would like to confirm that all work is focused on the World Cup Qualifiers, that is the most important thing. The national team should have gathered but the V.League stopped due to the epidemic. When the V.League returns and enters the break period, I will immediately gather the national team to practice tactics, achieving the most important goal of aiming for the World Cup Qualifiers."

“Every tournament is important”

“For me, every match and every tournament is important. I am in charge of both the national team and the U22 team. Every time there is a tournament, in the coming time, I will exert the highest effort to achieve the best results. There are 4 important tournaments, the remaining 3 matches in the World Cup Qualifiers. I have never achieved the achievement of reaching the final round, so I have to make the maximum effort. Even though I am at the top of the table, I still have to try my best.

Two years ago, we won the AFF Cup, we must try to be worthy of the role of defending champion. The U22 team will have the U23 Asian Qualifiers next year, and last year we won the SEA Games for the first time, so next year we must play as champions. These four tournaments are the top priority. For any tournament, we must always prepare well and make the greatest effort to achieve the desired results.

Coach Park Hang-seo watches a match at V.League 2020. Photo: TK

The National Championship is very important, as the head coach, I hope VFF, VPF and the clubs maintain the best schedule so that they have time to concentrate on the national team to compete well. I will request this because before competing, we need time to concentrate. I am in charge of both teams, so I will do the same as last year, separating the two teams, the two coaching staffs and I will be in charge of the whole team. I will consider that option."

Ready to return to the national team

“The V.League is on hold, I have been in charge of the Vietnam National Team for 3 years now, so I know the abilities and information of the players on the national team roster. U22 players rarely have the opportunity to play in the V.League, the First Division does play, so we have to send 2 assistants to monitor and check the players’ abilities. It’s a pity that we don’t have a full grasp of those players because they don’t have much playing time.

Opponents UAE and Malaysia both have naturalized players, the UAE team has 3 naturalized players, 2 of Brazilian origin and 1 of Argentine origin, of which 1 player of Brazilian origin tested positive for Covid-19 so he did not participate in the recent training session. According to the Government's decision, if allowed, I will immediately join the national team to prepare well."

Coach Park shares about salary reduction issue

“That issue is specified in detail in the contract, if so, we will be able to re-sign the contract. I think that is an issue that should not be thought about too easily, I know the situation in Vietnam is very difficult, raising the issue of salary adjustment, then the contract must be re-signed. Because in fact, there are many ways to do it, I am living in Vietnam, I have contributed to youth football, have made contributions and served society for youth football…

Coach Park Hang-seo is ready to re-sign his contract with VFF. Photo: Hai Hoang

This year without Covid-19, how can I contribute more to youth football? Of course, I will discuss with my agent to have a suitable exchange with VFF. We are foreigners, coming here to work with a contract so we have our own self-respect, I will discuss with my agent to have a way to work with VFF again if necessary.

About the new Technical Director of VFF and the duties of each person

“Mr. Jurgen Gede is a rather unfortunate case as his contract expired and he left, and the VFF decided to bring in a Japanese technical director. Basically, our immediate tasks are different. I am in charge of the national team and the U23 team. The technical director is someone who has the knowledge to do the job in a clearly defined way, and can be in charge of youth training…

As for youth training cooperation, my job is to be in charge of the national team. If there is a chance to cooperate, I will share experiences and need help to cooperate to do the best for the future of Vietnamese football."

Controversy surrounding the recent national team concentration list

“The list has 36 people, 4 goalkeepers, so there are 32 people left. Since taking charge of the national team, this is a large list, 3 new goalkeepers, 12 players called up for the first time or newly. So 1/3 is new, everyone has a different opinion, 12 people is a large number in the recent list.

Compared to 2019, our national team has done the work of commenting and evaluating, I cannot go into details. In 2021, I want to build a system for old and new players to compete fairly to select from. In fact, new players who have never been called up to the national team do not have many opportunities to compete, I have to observe the fields very carefully to find players. The number of 15 new players is a very large number, we will continue to observe and select.

Coach Park wants to give more opportunities to new recruits. Photo: TK

The national team list is always open, not all players who are selected for the national team will always stay. Let me give an example to explain the case of Anh Duc. Many people doubt his return, we know that the list was there before FIFA announced the cancellation of the World Cup Qualifiers. Anh Duc is a capable player, the problem is his declining physical strength. Every time we gather, the list is to check his ability. We don't know how his physical strength is, so we put him up for testing before making a decision."

Try to keep the 3-man defense for the team.

“Since being appointed, the Vietnam national team still plays with 3 central defenders, and in some matches with 4 defenders. The national team's tactics have been exposed quite a lot, especially in 2019. I am researching and discussing to apply new tactics, so it will take a lot of time. I try to keep the 3 central defenders, the change is in the attack, the attack form changes, focusing on taking resources from the midfield, the forward line will not change much.

That change needs preparation, that change is best suited to cause chaos for the opponent. We continue to implement this change. In addition to changing the way of playing, we have a plan to change to increase the ability to possess the ball by 5-10% and how to make the attackers close to the opponent's goal in the fastest time.

Coach Park Hang-seo affirmed that he will renew the Vietnamese team. Photo: Hai Hoang

The third problem is physical strength. In the world, on average each player usually runs 10 km/match, currently only 1-2 Vietnamese players can run like that, the average is 9 km/match, how can players increase the distance by 1-2 km more. The average high-speed running distance in the world is 500m, our players can only run 300m, showing the ability to penetrate the opponent's space. So we have to try to increase it by 200m more.

Another problem is mentality. After winning the AFF Cup and the SEA Games, the desire and sense of purpose may be decreasing. We will overcome this by bringing in some new players to compete with the old players, to create the best healthy competition for the team.”

Why was Khac Ngoc not called up to the national team by coach Park Hang-seo?

(Baonghean.vn) - Among the 36 players on the list called up by coach Park Hang-seo, there are many new faces but unfortunately, midfielder Ho Khac Ngoc, who is in good form, is not on the list.