Song Lam Nghe An seeks tactical approach ahead of match against Viettel.

Coach Huy Hoang prepares the training plan for the players. Photo: Duc Anh.

After a nearly 20-day break in the V.League 2022 for the Vietnamese national team's international friendly matches, Round 17 of the 2022 National Championship will return to Vinh Stadium on October 1st. Song Lam Nghe An will host the reigning champions Viettel. Viettel boasts a very strong squad and is currently in good form, having just secured a resounding victory against Nam Dinh in Round 16 of the V.League 2022.

Assessing the opponent, coach Huy Hoang said: “Viettel is currently in very good form, having just won 4-0 against Nam Dinh in round 16 of the V.League 2022. The reigning champions have a deep squad. The players have fairly consistent professional skills. Among them, three standout players – Hoang Duc, Khac Ngoc, and striker Geovane – are all very dangerous. They have the ability to create breakthroughs and change the course of the game. We have developed strategies to limit the danger from these strikers. Despite facing a strong opponent in every aspect, we are determined to win at home.”

Song Lam Nghe An faced Viettel at Hang Day Stadium. Photo: Chung Le

Song Lam Nghe An has gone four matches without a win, and the team playing at Vinh Stadium is now 5 points behind the top 3 teams. Many key players are showing signs of declining form. Therefore, the nearly 20-day break is a golden opportunity for the team to regain their morale and get back into the rhythm they had at the beginning of the season.

The captain of Song Lam Nghe An shared: “The break between rounds 16 and 17 of the V.League 2022 lasted nearly 20 days, but unfavorable weather conditions affected the players' training. However, we took advantage of every moment, even training in the rain, to prepare as best as possible for this match. We are trying to assemble the players we have in a reasonable way. Besides that, the club's coaching staff is also trying to boost the players' morale to achieve the set goals.”

Improving finishing skills is a key focus in coach Huy Hoang's training sessions. Photo: Duc Anh

In the V.League 2022 Round 16 match, Song Lam Nghe An suffered a major blow to their squad. Captain Que Ngoc Hai received a direct red card and will miss two consecutive matches. This is a significant disadvantage for the home team in Vinh, as coach Huy Hoang has limited options for positions in the defensive line.

Faced with these difficulties, the youngest strategist in V.League 2022 offered a solution: “The absence of Que Ngoc Hai is a big disadvantage for Song Lam Nghe An. However, through the recent training sessions, I have placed a lot of faith in Hoang Van Khanh. I hope he will be able to effectively lead Song Lam Nghe An's defense against the strength of the reigning champions. I think Hoang Van Khanh will perform that role well.”

Besides defensive difficulties, Song Lam Nghe An's attacking line has also failed to achieve the goal-scoring efficiency expected by fans. Their foreign strikers often appear ineffective in front of goal. This is one of the main reasons why Song Lam Nghe An has dropped to 5th place in the V.League 2022 standings.

Hoang Van Khanh was assigned the task of commanding Song Lam Nghe An's defense in the match against Viettel. Photo: Duc Anh

“In the previous rounds, the foreign players' goal-scoring performance has been quite modest. Those players have discussed this with me quite a bit, and they are very disappointed. To address this issue, the Song Lam Nghe An coaching staff has recently had the players practice off-ball movement and simulate various situations to improve their finishing skills. I think they will be able to perform at their best in the upcoming match.” Coach Huy Hoang outlined the strategy for scoring against the opponent.

The Vinh Stadium, once a formidable venue for visiting teams, has proven less effective in recent rounds. Players are showing signs of psychological tension under the pressure to win at home. To address this, the leadership of the Song Lam Nghe An head coach is crucial: “I need to work with the players on this when they play at home. Often, after a few matches without a win, players become complacent. The responsibility for helping the players overcome this psychological burden rests with me. The head coach must motivate the players to shed their pressure and play with the most effortless spirit possible.”

Coach Huy Hoang added: “After a series of matches that didn't yield good results and didn't meet fans' expectations, we are seriously acknowledging the club's shortcomings. The coaching staff will work to the best of their ability to deliver more positive results. We believe Song Lam Nghe An will win this match.”

Lam River, Nghe AnThey are going through an extremely difficult period. They are facing immense pressure from many sides. A win at this time would be an effective boost to lift the spirits of Coach Huy Hoang and his team. Will the players' seriousness in training, along with the solutions and initiatives from the coaching staff, bring about positive results? The answer will have to wait until the ball rolls in the fiery atmosphere of Vinh Stadium, in the match against Viettel on October 1st.