The story of the four "gunner musketeers" from Nghe An in the "three-horse" race

Although it costs a lot of money to bring in a foreign coach, those who understand Vietnamese football all believe that Thanh Hoa cannot yet enter the "three-horse" race with Viettel, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The "three horse" race

Champion Hanoi has extended the contracts of most of its key players, foreign player Romario has also left Thanh Hoa Stadium to go to Hang Day Stadium. Even Hoang Vu Samson, who was loaned out by coach Chu Dinh Nghiem, shows how formidable the capital team is.

Meanwhile, this season, the Thong Nhat Stadium team has really “played big” by “changing the blood” from the technical bench to the squad. Club President Huu Thang has just appointed goalkeeper coach Tran Minh Quang, fitness coach Javier Lurueña Lobo from Spain and former Korean national team center-back Lee Jung-soo to the position of assistant head coach.

Along with the return of Phi Son and Quang Nam, coach Chung Hae-soung has brought in quality names such as goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung, midfielder Vo Huy Toan, top scorer of the First Division Nguyen Xuan Nam and star Nguyen Cong Phuong... It is no coincidence that Chairman Huu Thang declared: "In the next season, Ho Chi Minh City Club will play on equal terms with Hanoi Club and other teams. We want to win the championship."

Expectation

But the fans of the army team still believe that Viettel is the team with the most advantages in the 2020 V.League championship race. First, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi still have to compete in the ASEAN Club Championship, while runner-up Ho Chi Minh City still has to play in the 2020 AFC Champions League qualifying round. Next, Viettel is benefiting from the 30th SEA Games thanks to the improvement of Mr. Park, Hoang Duc and Duc Chien.

The 4 "musketeers" from Nghe An will be the backbone of Viettel in V.League 2020. Photo: AT

Obviously, with the four "musketeers" Nguyen Manh, Trong Hoang, Que Ngoc Hai, Khac Ngoc who are and have been members of the National Team, Viettel will be able to play with many tactical schemes. That is not to mention Vu Minh Tuan, Nguyen Hoang Duc, Duc Chien, Trong Dai, Viet Phong, Bruno... names that have already affirmed themselves.

“In fact, the club's leadership has not yet set a specific goal, but it must definitely be in the top group, not simply surpassing the 6th place that Viettel achieved in the 2019 season,” affirmed coach Truong Viet Hoang.

4 "musketeers" of Nghe An

Among the four “musketeers” of Nghe An, Trong Hoang is the “cleaver” who can play in both a 3 or 4-back formation, both as a winger and a right-back. In the past, Hoang “bo” also played many times as a central midfielder. Trong Hoang’s aggressive, enthusiastic and experienced playing style always inspires his teammates.

At Viettel Club, Bui Tien Dung is the captain, but center back Que Ngoc Hai is the leader in the locker room. The captain of the National Team has the prestige of a senior who has fought for many years on all Vietnamese football fields. In his first season with the army team, when facing difficulties, Que Ngoc Hai was the one who lifted the spirits of his teammates.

Has the “monument” Viettel (descendant of The Cong) returned yet? Photo: Viettel FC

Among the four “musketeers”, Khac Ngoc is the one who has the most difficulty finding an official position for himself, especially when central defender Duc Chien “suddenly” plays quite well in the central midfield position. Not to mention, it is likely that coach Viet Hoang will buy a foreign midfielder for this position. But if he has a position in the “miniature Vietnam National Team”, Khac Ngoc’s path to the national team will be much brighter.

While SLNA does not have much ambition in V.League 2020, Nghe An audiences will spend a lot of time watching the 4 Nghe An "musketeers" at Viettel in the "three-horse" race next season.

An Thanh