Midfielder Tran Phi Son: The day of return is not far away!

New journey, many ups and downs

Entering this season, Tran Phi Son decided to leave SLNA to join Ho Chi Minh City Club. At the new team, the player nicknamed “Vietnam’s Ronaldo” had to go through many difficulties.

Not only did he have to adapt to the new playing environment, the player born in 1992 also had to adapt to different playing positions. At SLNA, Tran Phi Son played in his favorite position of right winger, but at Ho Chi Minh City Club, Coach Miura arranged for him to play in the left winger position or in the role of attacking midfielder.

As a talented and professional player, it didn't take long for Tran Phi Son to win the trust of coach Miura and the fans at Thong Nhat Stadium.

In the first 3 matches of Ho Chi Minh City FC in V.League 2018, Tran Phi Son scored 2 goals to help his team defeat Saigon FC (2-1) and Sanna Khanh Hoa (1-0). Unfortunately, in the match against his former team SLNA, the player wearing the number 10 shirt had to leave the field before the first half ended due to injury.

Bad luck still hasn't let go of Tran Phi Son. After a period of injury, the midfielder born in 1992 was used by coach Miura in the match between Than Quang Ninh and Ho Chi Minh City Club, which took place at Cam Pha Stadium in round 9.

At the end of the match, Tran Phi Son was disqualified for reacting. In total, Tran Phi Son "sat around" in V.League 2018 for up to 4 matches, due to injury and penalty cards.

Tran Phi Son is in good form for Ho Chi Minh City Club. Photo: Internet

However, the contribution of “Vietnamese Ronaldo” to the Thong Nhat Stadium team cannot be underestimated. Playing 19 matches, Tran Phi Son directly contributed to 16/36 goals of Ho Chi Minh City Club (6 goals, 10 assists), equivalent to nearly 45% of the team's total goals.

Currently, Tran Phi Son is only 1 assist behind the leader in the list of players with the most assists in V.League 2018 - Nghiem Xuan Tu (the midfielder of Than Quang Ninh has 11 assists).

With Tran Phi Son's contributions, Ho Chi Minh City Club is quickly moving out of the "dangerous" group. For the player from Ha Tinh, the day he returns to wear the Vietnamese national team jersey is getting closer. Over the past 2 years, Tran Phi Son has continued to cherish the hope of wearing the national team jersey.

To have that honor, the midfielder wearing the number 10 shirt needs to prove more, maybe to catch the "green eye" of coach Park Hang Seo.

The difficult journey to the national team

At this time, Vietnamese football possesses a series of talented midfielders. There are over a dozen wingers and attacking midfielders alone.

Roughly speaking, there are Phan Van Duc (SLNA), Nguyen Van Toan, Nguyen Cong Phuong, Nguyen Phong Hong Duy (HAGL), Nguyen Van Quyet, Nguyen Quang Hai (Hanoi FC), Nguyen Trong Hoang, Vu Minh Tuan (FLC Thanh Hoa), Vo Huy Toan (SHB Da Nang)... Obviously, the competition for tickets to the national team is extremely fierce.

To be present at the AFF Cup 2018, Tran Phi Son must catch the eye of coach Park Hang Seo. In terms of class, the player currently playing for Ho Chi Minh City Club is not inferior to any domestic midfielder in the V.League.

The disadvantage for Tran Phi Son is that since the AFF Cup 2016, he has been absent from every call-up of the Vietnam National Team (Coach Mai Duc Chung twice, Coach Park Hang Seo once). The possibility of being "abandoned" again is not small for the player from Ha Tinh.

Two years have passed, but Tran Phi Son still has not returned to wear the Vietnamese national team jersey. Photo: Internet

It will not be surprising if Coach Park Hang Seo continues to use U23 Vietnam as the framework for the Vietnam National Team at AFF 2018. Simply, Phan Van Duc, Nguyen Cong Phuong, Nguyen Van Toan... are constantly improving, and Coach Park Hang Seo understands them down to every detail.

Therefore, in the upcoming training session, players who have never been called up by Mr. Park will find it difficult to receive the honor of wearing the Vietnamese national team jersey.

Of course, the door to the national team has not been completely closed for Tran Phi Son. Because coach Park Hang Seo is not the type of coach who chooses personnel based on emotions. Certainly, the performances of Tran Phi Son as well as other players in V.League, National First Division, National Cup... are all within the sight of the Korean strategist.

Missing out on talent is extremely rare for a coach who emphasizes carefulness and objectivity like Coach Park Hang Seo. Just look at the cases of Phan Van Duc and Pham Xuan Manh to see clearly.

Experts and fans of Nghe An are hoping that Tran Phi Son will play excellently in the final rounds of V.League 2018. Thanks to that, the home team - Ho Chi Minh City Club will successfully stay in the league and "Vietnam's Ronaldo" will catch the eye of coach Park Hang Seo.

Two years without being called up to the national team is too long for a talented player like Tran Phi Son./.