The Cong Viettel drew 2-2 PVF-CAND: Popov talks about Damian Vu

The 2-2 draw between The Cong Viettel and PVF-CAND in round 11 of V-League ended with a highlight on the sidelines: Coach Popov refused to reveal the reason for letting Vietnamese-American Damian Vu start, emphasizing that the only measure is the quality of training, and at the same time did not hide his mental fatigue after 90 minutes when the army team dropped the victory at the end of the match.

Viettel dropped the victory in the last minutes

The Cong Viettel failed to keep all 3 points when PVF-CAND equalized at the last moment, turning a match that seemed to be a foregone conclusion into a draw. That moment exposed the stability problem that coach Popov's team is still looking for a solution for in the middle of the season.

Decision to use Damian Vu: measure from the training session

When asked why he chose to let Damian Vu play from the start, Coach Popov ended all speculation: “I will not share the reason. This is my decision. Whoever trains well deserves to play.” This viewpoint focuses on performance during the week, sending a clear message to the locker room about competitiveness and fairness in personnel selection.

Damian Vu is expected to help Viettel diversify their playing style and strengthen the midfield. Although he has not left a clear mark in this match, being given the opportunity to start is still a step forward in the tempo and integration of the Vietnamese-American player into the team's tactical structure.

Coach Popov's mood: mentally exhausted after the match

After the final whistle, coach Popov did not shy away from his true feelings: “Everyone watched the game. I don’t know what you expected me to say. Were they excellent or not good or what? I’m fed up. Enough.” It was a true slice of pressure: inconsistent performance, high expectations from the audience and media, and the burden of coordinating personnel in the midst of a series of tense matches.

Tactical perspective: signals for midfield structure

Giving Damian Vu a starting spot in round 11 shows the coaching staff’s priority on flexibility in the midfield. Even if the immediate effect is not clear, this choice fits the logic of team building: increasing connection options, adding energy and creating internal competition. In the context of Viettel’s search for stability, the practice-based selection method means that each starting spot is a commitment to intensity and discipline.

Off-field impact: a message for the locker room and fans

Popov refrained from commenting on individual players or specific personnel changes, but the core message was still delivered: a transparent framework, with no concessions to outside factors. For fans, it was a commitment to renewing the team through internal competition; for players, it was a reminder that training standards must translate into starting positions.

Notable Quotes

• “I will not share the reason. This is my decision. Whoever trains well deserves to compete.”
• “Everyone has watched the game... I'm fed up. Enough is enough.”

Points to watch in the coming rounds

• Damian Vu's level of integration and influence when given the opportunity.
• The way coach Popov rotated, especially in midfield, to stabilize the results.
• The collective reaction to the message “whoever trains well will play” and the impact on the intensity of the competition.