Hung 'the crossbar' needs to overcome himself.

(Baonghean) - Perhaps by now, coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his teammates have done everything they can to help Pham Manh Hung regain his form. The remaining question is whether the former captain of the Vietnam U23 team can overcome his own weaknesses and rediscover the skills he once displayed...

In 2010, at the age of 17, Mạnh Hùng quickly established his class with his ability to command the defense, especially with his accurate and tricky free kicks. Leading the SLNA U17 team to the final of the National U17 Championship with 3 goals, all from set pieces, Mạnh Hùng became a formidable free-kick specialist.

That's why, when watching Hung "Tiu" play, people had reason to hope for a "new version," a successor to the steely central defender Nguyen Huy Hoang. Just a year later, Pham Manh Hung caught the eye of coach Nguyen Huu Thang and was given special permission to train with the senior team. However, a series of injuries (torn ligaments) caused the player born in 1993 to disappear from the V.League for two seasons, 2011 and 2012.

The 2017 V.League season presents an unparalleled opportunity for center-back Pham Manh Hung to surpass himself, regain the trust of SLNA fans and coaching staff.

By the 2013 season, Coach Huu Thang's faith in his pupil had paid off. In the Nghe An team's defense, Manh Hung surpassed Ngoc Hai to become the first-choice partner with Huy Hoang, making 18 of his 19 official appearances.

The youthful energy and guidance of his senior teammates helped Mạnh Hùng easily mark foreign players and neutralize opponents' attacks. That year, SLNA only lacked a bit of luck to finish in second place, or even compete for the championship. At the same time, the 2013 V.League season also witnessed the remarkable progress of the central defender from Nghĩa Đàn.

His strong, tenacious playing style while playing for SLNA helped Manh Hung score points and earn a place in the national team, becoming the number one hope for the Vietnam U23 team at the 27th SEA Games. However, it was from this point that Pham Manh Hung began to show signs of decline.

His unprofessional lifestyle caused the young talent of SLNA to gradually lose himself. The 2014 V.League season witnessed a series of regrettable mistakes from this central defender. Without captain Huy Hoang, Mạnh Hùng should have become a pillar of support for his teammates, but in his second season playing at the highest level, Hùng allowed Quế Ngọc Hải to take the starting spot and only appeared in a mere 12 matches.

A year later, Mạnh Hùng still enjoyed the trust of coach Ngô Quang Trường, but in the second half of the season, Hùng's performance was inconsistent, with some matches being good and others not. Particularly in the 2016 V.League season, his erratic form and numerous yellow cards led to him being sidelined, with only 12 opportunities to play. In the last two seasons, this central defender not only caused worry for his teammates and coaching staff but also became the "culprit" in avoidable defeats, accumulating 11 yellow cards and being sent off twice.

Moreover, his hot temper and moments of lack of self-control during the 2015 U21 National Championship qualifiers led to his exclusion from the club's squad.

Nevertheless, Mạnh Hùng's efforts to rediscover himself have yielded certain successes. These include winning the championship with the SLNA U21 team in 2014, a bronze medal at the 28th SEA Games in Singapore, and a rather convincing performance in the U23 Asian Cup qualifiers, earning him the nickname Hùng "the crossbar".

Under coach Toshiya Miura, Pham Manh Hung was still highly valued and appreciated. However, when he "disappeared" from the national team's colors, fans couldn't help but feel regret for such a talented player.

Having helped his student overcome difficulties on and off the field on numerous occasions, Coach Nguyen Duc Thang shared: “If Manh Hung plays with focus, he will be a great player. After a while, Manh Hung has somewhat lost his feel for the game. This year, I really hope Manh Hung will regain what he once had…”

For his part, Manh Hung is also constantly concerned about his current form. “Lately, I haven't been really satisfied with my performance. Having been out of the national team for a long time, I've used that as motivation to strive every day. In the new season, I will try my best in every match, regain my form and the trust of the coaching staff and fans, and I promise to give my all, not letting down the love and expectations of everyone…”

In theory, what Pham Manh Hung has shown so far doesn't live up to his level and potential. With Ngoc Hai also showing signs of stagnation, Manh Hung's mistake in the opening match of the 2017 V.League season, a loss against FLC Thanh Hoa, further increased fans' concerns about the remaining matches for the Nghe An team.

At 24 years old, time is running out for Hung 'the crossbar' to strive to rise up and save himself. SLNA is trying to regain the trust of its fans, and a player like Manh Hung needs to know what he must do to reclaim what he has lost before it's too late. Because there will certainly come a time when the SLNA coaching staff will face difficulties in deciding whether to use Manh Hung given his many regrettable mistakes in the past.

Trung Kien