Van Toan will benefit from Cong Phuong's departure.

The HAGL player who was named the best in V-League 2016 admitted that he played better without Cong Phuong by his side.

“Cong Phuong’s move to Mito Hollyhock has left me with more space at the club. I’ve had more freedom to play and more opportunities to show myself this past season,” the HAGL striker wearing the number 9 jersey shared. “My playing style and physical condition are also better this year than before, and I’ve gotten used to the V-League environment.”

Shining brightly in the final stages of the V-League, Van Toan helped his team secure early relegation survival. Photo: Duc Dong.

Last season, the player from Hai Duong played in all of HAGL's V-League matches (25 starts and one substitute appearance). However,Van Toan also went through a long period of silence, only scoring regularly in the final stages of the season to help his team.He secured his place in the league three rounds early. He scored a total of...bseven tables.

“In the beginning, I couldn't score goals, so I felt a lot of pressure, but after receiving encouragement from the coaching staff, my teammates, and my own efforts in training, I regained my form. Being voted the best player of the club makes me very happy, but to achieve that, I also relied on the help of many people around me,” he said.

Van Toan (front) admits he is not a copy of Le Cong Vinh (back). Photo: Duc Dong.

The player, born in 1996, is currently the youngest member of the Vietnamese national team preparing for the upcoming AFF Cup. He previously scored two goals for the national team in the match against Taiwan in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. “As the youngest player on the team, I lack experience, so I have to try harder and train more actively to stay with the team,” Van Toan said. “In the Vietnamese national team, each player has their own strengths, so just trying hard isn't enough. I need a little luck and to avoid injuries to have any hope of participating in the AFF Cup later this year.”

When asked about his senior teammate Le Cong Vinh, Van Toan said: “I am not a copy of Vinh. He is the most professional player in Vietnam and has achieved many accomplishments both with his club and the national team. To be able to follow Cong Vinh's example, I need a very long time to strive. Moreover, I prefer playing as a midfielder rather than as a striker like him.”

According to VNE