Que Ngoc Hai has to rely on Mr. Park?

I don't understand what coach Park Hang-seo did that helped the central defender with a "hard-hitting" playing style become the leader of the defense, helping the Vietnamese team win the AFF Cup 2018 and make a strong impression at the Asian Cup 2019.

Blockbuster expectations

Que Ngoc Hai in Viettel shirt. Photo: VPF

SLNA, despite their great desire, still cannot find enough funds to keep the central defender and captain of the national team. Meanwhile, Viettel, known as the "young master" of V.League, spared no expense in buying the trio of cars-cannons-horses Ngoc Hai, Trong Hoang and Minh Tuan to be the core for the season. With a contract of 8 billion VND for 3 seasons, receiving the money in one lump sum has made Ngoc Hai a "blockbuster" in the domestic contracts this season. Viettel's leadership even generously gave the vice-captain's armband to this number 3 defender.

When he returned to play for Viettel, after 10 rounds of V-League 2019, Ngoc Hai only played 5 matches. The reason he played so little was because of 2 suspensions. The first was the red card right at Hoa Xuan Stadium, right in the opening match and then the internal Viettel penalty after Ngoc Hai committed a foul that led to the injury of Van Kien of Hanoi FC before the decision was made: "Fine 20 million VND and suspend 4 matches in the 2019 National Professional Football Tournament for player Que Ngoc Hai (number 3) of Viettel Club for intentionally violating the body of player Tran Van Kien (number 13) of Hanoi Club at Hang Day Stadium, Hanoi".

Que Ngoc Hai has been continuously punished while playing for Viettel. Photo: Dung Nguyen

Broadly speaking, in the 5 matches that Ngoc Hai started, the new player Viettel lost 11 goals, an average of 2.2 goals/match. Coach Lee Heung-sil tried Ngoc Hai in both the central defender and central midfielder positions but both were not as successful as expected.

Ngoc Hai cannot be blamed entirely, because it seems that the entire Viettel system is playing quite badly. Defenders Gustavo, Bui Tien Dung, Nguyen Trong Dai, and Van Thiet are playing very aggressively, not supporting each other much, so they have only not conceded a goal in 2/10 matches.

Big disappointment

Que Ngoc Hai had bad luck at the beginning of the 2019 season in Viettel's shirt. Photo: Tran Tien

The pressure of a new club has made a 26-year-old player who has been playing for many years in Vietnam unable to show much. Two red cards are too many for a national-level central defender like Que Ngoc Hai, making him a "flop" at the beginning of the season.

Whether this third-placed center-back will be called up to the national team for the 2019 King's Cup or the 2022 World Cup qualifiers is still a big question. Most players who play well are only selected for the national team. Perhaps Ngoc Hai alone must be selected for the national team thanks to the guidance of Mr. Park to play well? Many experts believe that with such inconsistent performance, Que Ngoc Hai losing his position to other juniors is not a surprising thing.