Song Lam Nghe An is facing difficulties due to a 'storm' of injuries.
In the crucial stage of the 2023/2024 V.League season, which will determine the final standings, Song Lam Nghe An has received much bad news regarding its squad due to several serious injuries.
At the end of round 23, Song Lam Nghe An still has a chance to decide their own fate and avoid the play-off spot, currently sitting in 12th place with 26 points, but ahead on goal difference compared to Hoang Anh Gia Lai, 2 points behind Hong Linh Ha Tinh and 3 points behind Quang Nam.
In their away match against Quang Nam in round 24, if Song Lam Nghe An secures 3 points, the Nghe An team will replace coach Van Sy Son's team in 10th place due to their head-to-head record. Meanwhile, in this round 24, Hoang Anh Gia Lai will play away against Binh Duong, and Hong Linh Ha Tinh will play away against Thep Xanh Nam Dinh, both desperate for points to compete for the championship.
Therefore, Song Lam Nghe An has a great opportunity to pull ahead in this round. However, coach Pham Anh Tuan and his colleagues are facing a major problem: the continuous injuries to their players.
Besides center-back Ho Khac Luong, who suffered a torn ligament and will be sidelined until next season, center-back Le Nguyen Hoang sustained adductor muscle inflammation after returning from the 2024 U23 Asian Championship finals and is expected to need another two months to recover. Striker Phan Xuan Dai suffered a tear in most of the medial collateral ligament (one-third of the ligament), and is expected to require three months for treatment and recovery.
Defender Mai Sỹ Hoàng and striker Ngô Văn Lương both suffered calf problems and are expected to be out for two weeks. Furthermore, midfielder Phan Bá Quyền – a crucial player in Sông Lam Nghệ An's defense and midfield – is suspected of having a fractured fibula sustained in the recent match against Đông Á Thanh Hóa.
This also means that Ba Quyen will have to undergo surgery and be sidelined for a long period. The player born in 2002 is one of the most versatile young players, having played the most matches in the V.League 2023/2024. His playing time is only less than goalkeeper Van Viet and the two foreign players Mario and Olaha, with 20 matches and 19 appearances in the starting lineup.
Players like Xuan Dai, Sy Hoang, Van Luong, and Ba Quyen are all goalscorers in the V.League 2023/2024. This forces coach Pham Anh Tuan to consider players who are only 18 years old and participating in professional football for the first time, such as Bui Thanh Duc, Le Dinh Long Vu, and possibly Phan Van Thanh, all born in 2006.
One of the reasons for the numerous injuries suffered by Song Lam Nghe An could stem from the packed schedule after the FIFA Days break, coupled with inadequate physical preparation, peak performance timing from the beginning of the season, and unsuitable training programs. According to our findings, to address this issue, Song Lam Nghe An will soon be seeking a Technical Director or Sporting Director, along with a fitness coach, both from Japan.
This plan is part of a comprehensive cooperation program with Mito Hollyhock Club of Japan. Last year, Song Lam Nghe An made efforts to find and sign a contract with a Brazilian fitness coach, but the deal fell through at the last minute.
Clearly, Song Lam Nghe An possesses a promising generation of young players. Besides the task of staying in the V.League 2023/2024, the team from Nghe An needs to quickly develop a plan to prepare for the next season in a more systematic and scientific way, maximizing the potential of their youth and gradually improving their performance in a sustainable manner.