SLNA: What is there to say about the three people returning?

At the same time, in the national U21 youth playground, there was also the return of a young star who had played for 2 seasons.V.LeagueNow, continuing to be "reinforced" for U21 SNA, central defender Ba Sang is showing signs that are not as expected.

First of all, the final whistle of the Vietnam-Laos match also ended Van Duc's difficult time since the match he scored for his team against the Philippines in 2018. After that was the time when Van Duc was injured, unable to serve the team and the recovery process, regaining his original form in the later stages of V. League 2020 and SLNA's unfinished, disappointing matches in V. League 2021, although Van Duc is still the brightest name of the team that has never been relegated in V. League.

After that, Van Duc was always trusted by coach Park in the national team, but both the coach and his players had to bear no small amount of pressure when this midfielder did not play really successfully, did not create or score goals for the national team for 3 years.

A valuable goal for Van Duc personally. Photo: Hai Hoang

As the 2021 AFF Cup approaches, Van Duc scored in an internal training match of the national team and those who know Mr. Park Hang-seo well can easily see that this midfielder will be in the starting lineup again, especially in the match against the long-time underdog, the Lao National Team. It is also not difficult to see after the match why, despite both scoring a goal, even scoring the important goal that opened the score, Cong Phuong was not voted the best player by the match organizers, but the one who was named was Van Duc?

The answer is that Van Duc contributes more to the team than Cong Phuong, from participating in defense, reversing in organizing attacks on both the right and left wings, and often being present at hot spots to receive passes from teammates with dangerous headers right from the start of the match.

And it can also be said that Van Duc's header close to the post even though the opposing team's goalkeeper had closed the angle to increase the score to 2-0 was more difficult than Cong Phuong's goal-scoring combination when this striker rose high, stretched in time to cushion the ball into the empty net (although according to online votes, this goal was considered the most beautiful?). Surely this goal of Van Duc will be one of the most meaningful goals of Van Duc to prove that, once he returns to his true self, he will be "more dangerous than before" as many football experts and many fans believe.

Former SLNA goalkeeper Nguyen Manh is bringing joy to many fans. Photo: Archive

Meanwhile, the return to the role of the number 1 goalkeeper of the Vietnam National Team of former SLNA goalkeeper Nguyen Manh also brought joy to many fans. A rare opportunity for Nguyen Manh is that the veteran goalkeepers of the Vietnam National Team such as Van Lam and Tan Truong all had personal problems when the team entered the AFF Cup 2021, so Mr. Park used Nguyen Manh right from the opening match against the Laos National Team. And this is the opportunity for Nguyen Manh to prove that the mistakes in the AFF Cup 2014 and 2016 were just occupational accidents and the goalkeeper with the best expertise among the goalkeepers playing in the V. League will not disappoint his teammates and the coaching staff if trusted. What Nguyen Manh has proven on the field in the past 5 years, especially in the V. League 2020 season with Viettel Club overcoming the powerful neighbor Hanoi FC to win the championship, is the basis for him to stand in the goal of the national team.

In fact, during the entire return match, Nguyen Manh did not have to "break a drop of sweat" when the Vietnam team had approximately 80% ball possession, but there was still enough "data" to prove that this is a goalkeeper of class. That was the situation where number 1 striker Billy Ketkeophomphone (of French origin, playing in the First and Second Divisions in France) headed dangerously and this striker's counter-attack situation was one time, but Nguyen Manh quickly grabbed the ball, another time he dived to the right but used his foot to block the opponent's left shot - similar to Van Lam's excellent penalty save in the second qualifying round of the World Cup against the Thai team at My Dinh Stadium), continuing to keep the home team's net intact until the end of the match.

This is not and has not been the most difficult match for the Vietnam National Team, but with what he has shown, Nguyen Manh has built and ensured the trust of his coach and the whole team. At this AFF Cup, Nguyen Manh's physical disadvantage is no longer a "minus point" compared to Tan Truong and the other goalkeepers. Previously, an SLNA goalkeeper, Duong Hong Son, shone brightly at the 2008 AFF Cup. Hopefully, Nguyen Manh will follow in his senior's footsteps to help the Vietnam National Team retain the prestigious gold cup.

And although it is a grassroots tournament, a youth tournament, the qualifying round and the National U21 Finals this year are the only youth tournaments held under the conditions of Covid-19 prevention. SLNA is restructuring and of course, when the first team has not returned, the U21 youth tournament is also the only place to prove the effectiveness of SLNA's efforts and rise to regain its inherent position in the U21 tournament as well as the V. League.

SLNA's leadership has assigned the title of U21 head coach to Quang Truong, who has just left the first team after an unsuccessful period, calling back the young players of the first team and many other young stars, including Ba Sang, who was promoted to play in V. League 2 in the recent season. Unfortunately, the hopes for U21 SLNA in this playground are gradually fading, when U21 seems to be "inferior" to teams from other training centers, such as Viettel for example? The last three matches of U21 SLNA did not leave much of an impression on defense under the command of experienced captain Ba Sang, especially in the two matches against U21 Quang Nam and U21 Viettel when the home team conceded 4 goals and when facing tough opponents like U21 Binh Duong or U21 NutiFood, things will be even more difficult? Hopefully Ba Sang and his teammates will soon regain the team's traditional spirit of overcoming difficulties, play well to pass the group stage, before thinking about the upcoming final round.

To see, there are many people who come back but are happy, not happy as in daily life, nothing is simple or easy. The main thing is to strive persistently, not arrogant when winning, not discouraged when losing, like Van Duc, Nguyen Manh have overcome, is a lesson for Ba Sang to use as a foundation, as a stepping stone to move forward...