SLNA U21: A tough road ahead!

Before departing for the 2018 National U21 Championship Finals held in Hue City, Coach Nguyen Van Tien shared: “Objectively speaking, the SLNA U21 team this year is not as strong as in previous years. The players are all very young, born in 2000 and 2001, and haven't had much experience in professional competitions.”

Indeed, compared to previous appearances, the SLNA U21 team is considerably weaker than it once was. For example, coach Nguyen Van Tien doesn't have any truly outstanding players like Ho Thanh Thuong, Phan Thanh Hoan, Pham Van Quyen, Le Cong Vinh, Nguyen Trong Hoang, Nguyen Hong Viet, Tran Phi Son, Ho Phuc Tinh, Phan Van Duc… from the past.

In fact, the 2018 National U21 Championship was the first time the SLNA U21 team did not have any reinforcements from the first team. In previous championships, the SLNA U21 squad also had at least a few players who had previously competed in the V.League. In the 2017 National U21 Championship, Phan Văn Đức and Phạm Xuân Mạnh were two such cases.

The SLNA U21 team preparing to participate in the 2018 National U21 Championship Finals. (Photo: Archival image)

Furthermore, the fact that SLNA's young players are rarely called up to the Vietnam U16 and U19 teams for regional and continental tournaments also significantly affects the match experience of the team led by coach Nguyen Van Tien. The U21 National Championship finals are extremely competitive, demanding a very high level of both professional skill and mental fortitude.

The players are inexperienced, and the coach is no old fox either. According to our sources, this is the first time Coach Nguyen Van Tien has participated in the National U21 Championship as head coach. Despite having achieved much success with the SLNA U17 team (winning the championship in 2009), the former SLNA midfielder will still face numerous difficulties in the tournament for the U21 age group.

Furthermore, U21 SLNA's opponents in this tournament are all tough teams. Coach Nguyen Van Tien admitted: "One of the strong opponents in the finals is U21 Hanoi – Hanoi B, who just finished second in the First Division and played in the play-off match. In addition, Viettel also has half of its squad playing in the First Division. That's not to mention HAGL or the host team Hue."

That's not to say U21 SLNA doesn't have a chance to win the championship at the 2018 National U21 Championship. While lacking extensive experience, the talent of Coach Nguyen Van Tien and his team is undeniable. The former player, nicknamed Tien "Luc," is also considered a highly successful coach in youth tournaments. Leading U17 SLNA to victory in 2009 and finishing as runners-up a few months ago is a prime example.

Coach Nguyen Van Tien is considered to have a knack for coaching youth tournaments. Photo: Internet

Coach Nguyen Van Tien still has a number of promising players at his disposal, including goalkeeper Duong Van Cuong (best goalkeeper at the 2017 U19 National Championship), and the defensive duo Thai Ba Sang and Mai Sy Hoang (members of the Vietnam U19 national team)... These are the great hopes of U21 SLNA as well as the fans of Nghe An province at the upcoming tournament in the ancient capital.

Ultimately, not being highly rated or having too many expectations placed upon them helped Coach Nguyen Van Tien and his team avoid psychological pressure. In football, a relaxed mindset has often led to glorious achievements for many teams. The Danish national team at Euro 1992 and the Portuguese national team at Euro 2016 are clear examples.