Huu Thang: 'No one has the right to force me to choose players'

The head coach of the Vietnamese national team spoke out after criticism regarding his limited use of players who came through the HAGL youth academy in the first leg of the 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup semi-final.

The 1-2 defeat away to Indonesia in the first leg of the semi-final has put considerable pressure on the Vietnamese national team as they prepare for the second leg at My Dinh Stadium tomorrow, December 7th. One of the most pressing issues right now is how coach Nguyen Huu Thang will select his players to help Vietnam reverse the situation. In the first leg, the decision to bring on Van Toan and Cong Phuong late in the game drew some criticism from the public.

Amidst calls for giving the two players who came through HAGL's youth academy a chance to start in the second leg, Coach Huu Thang affirmed:He chose people based on what was best for the group and was not subject to any pressure.

"From the moment I took office, I built a strong team, where every member must have willpower and a competitive spirit. Each member is an important link, to a greater or lesser extent. I am the one who decides on personnel and only selects those I deem suitable, and I want to utilize the best qualities of the players. I affirm that no one can pressure me on professional matters, not even the General Department of Sports and Physical Training or the Vietnam Football Federation. I bear the highest responsibility for my professional decisions," he said at a pre-match press conference in Hanoi on the morning of December 6th.

Huu Thang has always believed in his personnel decisions and affirmed that he is not subject to any external pressure regarding the selection of players or tactics for the Vietnamese national team. Photo: Duc Dong.

This is the first time in his coaching career that Coach Huu Thang has faced the pressure of having to win a tense match at the national team level. However, he affirmed that he and his players are determined to approach the game with the most relaxed mindset possible.

"The pressure is different for coaches and players. But once we've decided that this is our passion, we have to accept it. Winning and losing in football is normal. Experiencing pressure gives us new experiences. Tomorrow's match is important, but I want my players to be as relaxed as possible and give their all for the fans. We will do everything we can to win, but in the spirit of fair play," he shared.

In the first leg in Bogor, the Vietnamese team faced many difficulties due to Indonesia's attacks down the flanks. However, coach Huu Thang insisted that the second leg at My Dinh Stadium would be different. "Indonesia has two very strong wing midfielders. Moreover, in the first leg, we had to play away from home under pressure from over 30,000 home fans. I am satisfied with what my players showed that day. But the second leg will be different; I will make appropriate adjustments based on the strengths and weaknesses that the team learned from the first leg," he emphasized.

Coach Huu Thang will face his former mentor Alfred Riedl for the fourth time. In the three previous encounters, each side won one match and there was one draw. Photo: Duc Dong.

The former Vietnam national team center-back also didn't forget to have kind words for Alfred Riedl, his colleague on the opposing team and former coach. He said: "It's interesting that I was once Riedl's student, and after 20 years, I'm leading the team against the teacher I've always respected. However, in football, everyone wants to win. I, like the players, want that too and will do everything to win, to bring glory to the homeland."

According to VNE