Hong Linh Ha Tinh parts ways with coach Pham Minh Duc.

As the "captain" and the "person in charge," Coach Pham Minh Duc must bear full responsibility for Hong Linh Ha Tinh's poor performance. However, objectively speaking, the team's disappointing performance in the first phase was understandable.V.League 2021The fault doesn't lie entirely with the strategist born in 1976. Simply put, Hong Linh Ha Tinh is both weak and lacking in talent.

Shortly after the end of the 2020 season, Hong Linh Ha Tinh lost Janclesio, Mansaray, Bruno Henrique, and Vu Huu Quy to other teams. Although they managed to add Kelly Kester, Ismahil Akinade, Chevaughn Walsh, Tran Phi Son, Giang Tran Quach Tan, Truong Trong Sang, etc., the strength of the "Hong Mountain" team was still negatively affected.

Coach Pham Minh Duc is no longer the "head coach" of Hong Linh Ha Tinh. Photo: Xuan Thuy

The gaps left by Janclesio, Vu Huu Quy, Mansaray, and especially Bruno Henrique are enormous. As a consequence, after 9 rounds in the first phase of V.League 2021, they have frequently conceded goals at crucial moments. Since the beginning of the season, the defense ofHong Linh, Ha TinhThey have only kept two clean sheets so far. Unsurprisingly, Hong Linh Ha Tinh is currently the team with the most goals conceded in the first phase of V.League 2021 (13 goals), up to this point.

Besides the "fragility" of the defense, there was also the inefficiency of the attack. While the foreign striker duo Ismahil Akinade and Chevaughn Walsh remained ineffective, the burden of scoring goals fell on Tran Phi Son, Pham Tuan Hai, and Ly Cong Hoang Anh. That's why, after the 0-1 defeat against Saigon FC, coach Pham Minh Duc had to lament the level of his three foreign players.

Phase 1 of the V.League 2021 has gone through 9 rounds, and no team has wasted as many penalties as the team from "the city of lotuses". First, Claudesir missed two consecutive penalties in the 1-2 loss against Than Quang Ninh, then Walsh failed to beat goalkeeper Pham Van Phong of Saigon FC in a similar situation, in the match that took place on the afternoon of April 11th.

Striker Chevaughn Walsh (number 9) has only scored a meager 2 goals for the "Hong Mountain" team. Photo: Xuan Thuy

Not only did they lack the necessary resources, but coach Pham Minh Duc and his team also suffered from erroneous referee decisions. For example, the sending off of foreign player Kelly Kester in the 0-2 defeat against Ho Chi Minh City FC, or the goal conceded in the 5th minute of added time in the 1-1 draw against Binh Dinh (the fourth official announced only 4 minutes of added time).

From what has been stated above, it can be seen thatCoach Pham Minh DucIt's not that he lacks talent, but rather that objective factors are not in his favor. Therefore, the 45-year-old "captain" is powerless to stop the Hong Linh Ha Tinh "ship" from rocking and losing its direction, despite his best efforts to steer it. Fairly speaking, Coach Pham Minh Duc is more to be pitied than blamed.

Realizing he was unable to revive Hong Linh Ha Tinh, the Hanoi-born strategist submitted his resignation to the team's management. Immediately, the leaders of the "Hong Mountain" team agreed to Coach Pham Minh Duc's decision. The Hong Linh Ha Tinh management is likely hoping that the saying "changing the coach changes the fortune" will apply to their team, a common occurrence in the world of football.

Coach Pham Minh Duc's departure will leave a significant void on the coaching bench of Hong Linh Ha Tinh. Certainly, the new head coach of the "Hong Mountain" team will face numerous difficulties and challenges in the coming period. Bringing the 2019 National First Division champions back to winning ways is no easy task for any strategist, given the current circumstances.