SLNA at a disadvantage before the National Super Cup due to injury storm
(Baonghean.vn) - On February 23, coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team will travel early to Hanoi to prepare for the National Super Cup match against the 2017 V.League champions - Quang Nam. On this trip, the Nghe An team will be missing many key players.
The most unfortunate case on SLNA's side is the absence of goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh, the SLNA captain who suffered a serious injury and broke his arm in the match in Singapore against Tampines Rovers. In recent seasons, Nguyen Manh has always been the number 1 choice and a solid support for the whole team, so the stability of the Nghe An team's defense will be significantly reduced.
During today’s training session (February 21), SLNA’s best defensive midfielder at the moment, Vo Ngoc Toan, was injured. The team’s doctor said that the player born in 1994 has a problem with his Achilles tendon and must rest for at least 1-2 weeks.
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| Midfielder Vo Ngoc Toan is injured and will be absent from the National Super Cup. Photo: Trung Kien |
Not only that, the person who can replace Vo Ngoc Toan, midfielder Dau Thanh Phong, has not recovered from his injury and has had to practice separately during the past time. Thus, currently, coach Nguyen Duc Thang only has midfielders Ho Sy Sam and Le Manh Dung who can play in this position.
Facing a Quang Nam team with "strong soldiers and generals" and having just added quality players such as Van Ha, Quang Huy, Mila and Wander Luiz, SLNA's coaching staff must definitely arrange a player with the ability to sweep and defend well from a distance.
If nothing changes, defender Dinh Hoang will most likely return to the right-back position. Pham Xuan Manh will play on the other wing, while central defender Pham Manh Hung will move inside to pair with Hoang Van Khanh, leaving Que Ngoc Hai to reluctantly "change roles" and play central midfielder.
Difficulties will be compounded when SLNA has not yet finalized foreign players after a trial period and 3 days after the National Super Cup, SLNA must return to prepare to welcome Johor Darul Tazim Club from Malaysia on February 28 at Vinh Stadium.
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(Baonghean.vn) - On February 28, after the National Super Cup match against Quang Nam, SLNA will enter the second match of Group H, AFC Cup 2018, welcoming Johor Darul Tazim Club from Malaysia.
