Pham Xuan Manh - the perfect 'successor' of Trong Hoang in the national team?

Finding your own shadow

In the achievement of reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 Asian Games, Pham Xuan Manh is one of the few players of SLNA who made a great contribution. Xuan Manh even wore the captain's armband in the match against the Korean Olympic team. Before that, Xuan Manh and U23 Vietnam created an Asian miracle in Changzhou. And 2018 was also a year in which the Yen Thanh player worked hard, leading to overload.

After the 2018 Asian Games, Xuan Manh suffered a foot injury, but unfortunately, the doctors diagnosed that it was not too serious and he could play. However, when playing in the National Cup semi-final match between SLNA and Thanh Hoa, Xuan Manh's injury became more serious.

Initially, he was diagnosed with a fractured fibula and was forced to undergo rehabilitation training at the PVF Center. However, after a period of rehabilitation training, the injury of the player born in 1996 did not progress much. The reason was that he also suffered another injury, a torn ankle ligament.

And that was the reason why at the end of November last year, he had to rush to Singapore for surgery. Because of this unfortunate injury, Xuan Manh missed the AFF Cup 2018 and Asian Cup 2019, tournaments in which Vietnamese football shocked Southeast Asia and the continent.

Overloaded with the national team and club, Xuan Manh had to leave the field for a long time due to injury. Photo: Nguyen Khanh

The difficult days of struggling with injuries have come to an end, Pham Xuan Manh marked his return with an impressive performance in 90 minutes in the match against Hai Phong team in round 9 of V.League 2019.

Since then, he has played 12 matches for SLNA, totaling 995 minutes of play. Every step, shot and header of Xuan Manh carries a special desire, the desire to contribute of a player who has been absent for half a year due to injury.

Pham Xuan Manh used to play as a winger when he was a young player, and could play as a striker or defender. But since turning professional, he has hardly played in an attacking position. It was not until V.League 2019, when Dinh Hoang and Dinh Dong were the two seniors guarding the two wings, that Xuan Manh was able to return to his old position.

In fact, when a midfielder has to play the defensive role for many years, the ability to create and break through will be increasingly limited. That is also the reason why throughout the 2018 season, Xuan Manh only had 1 goal in the V.League, which was a header against HAGL. Another goal was a powerful low shot against Johor DT in the AFC Cup - a shot that is his specialty. In 2017, Xuan Manh's mark as a defender was a header against B. Binh Duong in the first leg of the National Cup final at Go Dau Stadium.

Pham Xuan Manh scored his first goal in V.League 2019. Photo: FBNV

In the victory against B. Binh Duong, Xuan Manh scored a goal with a strong personal mark after a wall pass with Michael Olaha. This was Xuan Manh's first goal in V.League 2019 and as a relief, people saw the figure, speed and bravery of Xuan Manh in the past when he had not yet had to struggle with injuries.

Yen Thanh players still showed their aggressiveness, excellent ability to compete and support the attack. Before scoring, Xuan Manh had hit the crossbar and post a couple of times and many times his shots missed the opponent's goal by a hair.

Among the players who regularly play on the field, Xuan Manh is the most active player in the team. Because he is still a young player and full of desire to show himself. On the other hand, injury has taken away some of his chances to return to the national team and there is no other way, Xuan Manh must try more than 100% of his ability.

“Currently, I have scored a goal in the V.League and played a lot. I am trying every day to improve SLNA's performance with my teammates and strive for the goal of returning to the national team. That is the desire, honor and pride of any player.”

Pham Xuan Manh

After the resounding victory over B. Binh Duong, coach Duc Thang had reason to be satisfied with the return of Xuan Manh. He shared: "Xuan Manh in this match was not a free player but was in the position of a winger, so there were more opportunities to approach the opponent's goal. After the injury, Xuan Manh is also playing better and better and is gradually regaining his form."

Following in the footsteps of senior Trong Hoang?

The most difficult days of Xuan Manh's career have passed, his legs have healed, but at the national team level, it seems that luck has not come to this simple-minded player. A month before the match against Thailand, Xuan Manh had an ankle problem in the match against Nam Dinh and missed the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers when he only had 1 match to "warm up".

At SLNA, people liken Trong Hoang to the “successor” of Truong “buffalo” - former player Ngo Quang Truong. Now Pham Xuan Manh is the third version of such players. That is the type of player with good physique, good physical strength and a playing style that is not afraid of collision, leaning towards strength. Of course, Trong Hoang is superior in terms of experience and many other factors.

Xuan Manh's desire to return to the national team is something he has shown on the field throughout his journey. But if he is called up to the national team, where will Xuan Manh be? It certainly won't be a position in the attacking midfield that already has Cong Phuong, Van Toan, Quang Hai, not to mention Van Duc when he returns.

Pham Xuan Manh's aerial combat ability has been confirmed. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Recalling the journey at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship, despite being selected as a wildcard, Xuan Manh almost made Van Hau forgotten, that was the left-back position, then the right-back position. In fact, Xuan Manh is as versatile as Trong Hoang, but the advantage of the player born in 1996 is that he can play on both wings. At the Asiad match against Korea, Xuan Manh also played on the left wing and often climbed the sidelines. Any coach would prefer a player who can play in many positions, having more options in a match.

However, the left-back position of the national team currently belongs to Van Hau, a player with a huge physique and also stable performance. The remaining face is Hong Duy, although not good at defense, but very dangerous when facing weaker opponents and need to increase attack power. Thus, Xuan Manh's opportunities are only more on the right wing, where Trong Hoang is the top choice, no one can do better.

But then, one day, Trong Hoang - a player who is 30 years old this year - will have to give up the stage to his juniors, either because of injury or because of the burden of age. In the right-back position, Van Thanh has also just returned from injury in an impressive way, but compared to Xuan Manh, Van Thanh's advantage is the ability to attack, create breakthroughs, finish with one touch and has better personal technique.

Xuan Manh's goals are often not delicate or technical, but they are powerful, simple and effective. Photo: NVCC

However, if we consider the criteria of two full-backs in the 3-4-3 formation as being strong, well-rounded in attack and defense, able to move widely, good at following tactics, and able to climb the sidelines and cross the ball, then Xuan Manh will still have the advantage in the future. Especially when facing stronger opponents, requiring full-backs to focus more on defense. Another plus point that Xuan Manh can promote is his ability to fight in the air and score goals with his head.

Trong Hoang was also "magically" transformed by Coach Park from an attacking midfielder into the best right-back in Vietnamese football. So there is no reason why the version named Xuan Manh cannot become softer and more perfect under the hands of the Korean coach.

In the match against Thailand, Coach Park summoned Van Kien and Van Thanh as backups for Trong Hoang. And Van Thanh was also brought in to replace Trong Hoang in the second half, but in terms of defensive role, Van Thanh still showed many problems. That is the ability and speed to retreat to cover when being counter-attacked. If facing teams with strong offensive power, Van Thanh is not the optimal choice if Trong Hoang is absent.

Pham Xuan Manh has things in common with Trong Hoang to be able to take on the right wing position well. Photo: Trung Kien

According to the schedule of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, the Vietnam national team will meet Malaysia at My Dinh Stadium, visit Indonesia before returning to welcome UAE and Thailand. It is very difficult for Xuan Manh to "burn the stage" of concentration before the match against Malaysia because he has just returned. Second, Coach Park is loyal to his choices if the preparation time is too short, especially the trust that Trong Hoang and Van Hau have brought for so long.

Therefore, with the inherent advantages, Xuan Manh can rest assured to fight in SLNA's shirt. Coach Park is a pragmatic person, who knows, he will need something new, more certain in the two matches against UAE and Thailand, or further with teams that will not accept the underdog position against the Vietnam team.

If the Vietnamese national team part ways with coach Park or abandons the 3-4-3 style of play, Xuan Manh’s chances of returning to the national team are slim, if not difficult. But if the Korean coach remains with Vietnamese football, Xuan Manh is still the brightest prospect to follow in the footsteps of his senior Trong Hoang. That is the writer’s personal opinion and argument, the point is that Xuan Manh must make his own efforts and try./.

Pham Xuan Manh regrets missing the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers

(Baonghean.vn) - Besides revealing his injury situation, former U23 player Pham Xuan Manh also shared his feelings when his name was not on the preliminary list to prepare for the match against Thailand in the upcoming 2022 World Cup qualifiers.