Kewell responds to the possibility of Hoang Hen joining the Vietnam national team

Coach Harry Kewell admitted that he “has no information to share” when asked about the possibility of Hoang Hen joining the Vietnam national team during the upcoming FIFA Days. The statement was made right after Hanoi FC’s 4-0 victory over PVF-CAND, in which Hoang Hen scored a double.

Kewell cautious about questions about Vietnam national team

When asked to evaluate Hoang Hen’s chances in the Vietnam national team, coach Harry Kewell replied: “This is a difficult question. I don’t have any information to share at the moment.” The Australian coach’s caution shows that he avoids making judgments beyond the scope of available data, even though Hoang Hen has just left a big mark on efficiency.

Hanoi FC 4-0 PVF-CAND: clear structure, maintained tempo

Assessing the collective performance, coach Harry Kewell said: “The whole team played very well. We had a clear structure, understood each other in the way we played and maintained the tempo throughout the game.” He stressed that healthy internal competition helped to raise the overall quality: “All the players are working hard to compete for positions… I was pleased to see we defended well and controlled the game effectively.”

After 4 matches in charge, Kewell noted the adaptation speed of Hanoi FC players: “I was surprised at the speed of adaptation of the players. They understood and absorbed my philosophy very quickly. I was impressed with the way they thought about the game because football is a game of thinking, not just running on the field or playing instinctively.”

Hoang Hen's case: need time and protection

Regarding Hoang Hen personally, Kewell affirmed that he has never doubted the striker's fitness or ability: "I have never said that Hen's fitness is not good enough... After a year without playing regularly, it is very difficult to regain the feeling of the ball and physical condition, especially in the style of play we are building." According to Kewell, rotation is necessary to protect both the individual and the collective: "He needs more time to rest and we have to protect the player, protect the collective by making reasonable changes."

2.5 month break and Hanoi FC's plan

After round 11, the V-League will have a 2.5 month break to make way for FIFA Days and the SEA Games. Coach Kewell admitted: “As players or coaches, we are not used to such a long break.” However, Hanoi FC has prepared for this special time: “We have a specific plan, know what we need to do to be ready for the new season in about 90 days. However, our focus is still on the next match.”

Meaning to the team internally

A 4-0 win, with Hoang Hen scoring twice, provided a positive psychological boost, but Kewell’s message remained consistent: effectiveness comes from structure, tactical discipline and healthy competition. With the fixture schedule set to be disrupted, these principles will be the foundation for the team to maintain rhythm and cohesion, thereby optimizing what has been built in the first four games of the new era.