Head coach of Song Lam Nghe An: 'If the score stops at a draw, it will reflect the true situation of the match'

Evaluating his players’ performance, SLNA’s head coach said that the players played with focus and showed fighting spirit. However, the lack of precision in decisive finishing situations prevented the team from taking advantage of opportunities. “We had a pretty good game, especially in defense. Apart from a few loopholes that led to goals, the whole team showed overall effort. In my opinion, if the result had ended in a draw, it would have reflected the true situation of the match,” Mr. Thuat shared.

The coach from Nghe An also did not forget to praise his opponent: “PVF-CAND is a team with good professional quality, many promising young players and knows how to take advantage of home field advantage. I believe they will create surprises this season.”
Responding to the season's goals, SLNA's coach said the whole team will strive to improve their performance compared to last season. He emphasized that reaching high positions depends on many factors, but determination is indispensable.

Regarding the squad, the Nghe An coach admitted that some new recruits have only been training for a few days and are not yet in the best physical condition. “All the players have tried their best when they entered the field. I believe that when the cohesion improves, the team will meet professional requirements,” he said.
In particular, coach Phan Nhu Thuat has high expectations for foreign player Carlos Enrique: “I am satisfied with Carlo Enrique’s fighting spirit. He played quite well in the first half today despite his limited physical strength. If he is trained more, I believe Enrique will contribute more to the team.”

V.League 2025/26 has just begun, and the road ahead is still long. The defeat against PVF-CAND can be considered a valuable lesson for SLNA in adjusting the finishing as well as the concentration in defense. With the fighting spirit of the players and timely adjustments from the coaching staff, Song Lam Nghe An fans have the right to expect positive steps forward in the near future.