HAGL’s worries about being away from home
Eighth place after 10 rounds of V-League 2024 – 2025 is an acceptable result for HAGL. In the context of rejuvenating the force after parting with a series of pillars at the end of 2023, it is difficult to ask for more from the Pleiku home team.
If there is any regret, it’s just that coach Le Quang Trai and his team had a series of sublime matches at the beginning of the season (winning 2, drawing 1) to win the top spot in the table, but could not maintain this form. Only 1 victory in the last 9 matches has pushed HAGL to the middle of the table and in case of not returning to winning ways, the mountain town team is at risk of being caught in a spiral of relegation racing.
Will HAGL return?
More worryingly, HAGL is increasingly ineffective away from home. If playing in Pleiku, Chau Ngoc Quang and his teammates played well, benefiting from the high altitude in the mountain town and the familiar playing space (won 2, drew 3 from the beginning of the tournament). When having to march far from home, HAGL is easily defeated. Only 1 point in the last 4 away matches is a bad omen when “Bi-rai Tiger” prepares to be a guest on the most difficult stadium: Hang Day, in front of the home team Hanoi, who is in full swing. again.
It is necessary to acknowledge HAGL’s efforts to change over the years. Coach Kiatisak Senamuang did a very good job of promoting the spirit of Cong Phuong and Van Toan to create a cohesive team. Thanks to the transformation in playing philosophy and psychology, HAGL ranked first in the V-League 2021 (before the tournament was canceled) and ranked sixth in the V-League, third in the National Cup for the 2022 season.
When Mr. Vu Tien Thanh took over as head coach and is currently the technical director, the players’ physical fitness has improved. The former coach of the Saigon team affirmed that the players must run and run continuously, strive to steal the ball and play with a warrior spirit. Thanks to good physical preparation and strict tactics, HAGL flew high in the early stages of the season with a series of 5 unbeaten matches. However, the current efforts are not a strong enough medicine to boost HAGL’s player base, which has been weakening for many years because the mountain town team no longer produces many talents, and is not strong enough. to bring back the star.
Mr. Vu Tien Thanh and HAGL lost 0-2 to Hanoi at Hang Day Stadium last season
At the AFF Cup 2024, HAGL only contributed 2 faces, of which only 1 main player (Ngoc Quang). “Raw jade” in the hands of duo Vu Tien Thanh and Le Quang Trai only stops at preparing for the future. Demanding much from HAGL at this time is unreasonable.
Overcoming difficulties
Technical Director Vu Tien Thanh is no longer unfamiliar with Hanoi Club. He faced the capital team as head coach of 3 teams: Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City and HAGL, with a record of winning 2 and losing 4. Last season, HAGL with the duo Vu Tien Thanh and Kiatisak sat together. The head coach won 2-0 against Hanoi in Pleiku in the first leg. But in the second leg rematch, the mountain town team hung their shirts with a score of 0-2 at Hang Day Stadium.
In last season’s epic return match, HAGL entered the game well, playing closely with the defensive block ensuring the right distance. Mr. Vu Tien Thanh’s students also had some counterattack situations, but from Minh Vuong, Ngoc Quang to foreign strikers, no one took advantage of them successfully.
It is this waste that makes HAGL pay the price. Although they did not play overwhelmingly, Hanoi Club had stars to solve the match. Experienced spearheads, especially Van Quyet, are good enough to shine for just a moment. If HAGL has to wait for collective strength to hope to get points, host Hanoi has the privilege of big players.
In the competition tomorrow night (January 24), HAGL will again approach with a tight deep defense and may not be afraid to play hard and kick hard to block the home team’s path. That is the familiar approach of technical director Vu Tien Thanh, when playing as pragmatically as possible and promoting results. But whether or not they can stand firm against Hanoi depends on the player’s bravery. HAGL has dropped many points in recent matches due to lack of stability in decisive moments.
To survive, in addition to tactical preparation, Mr. Thanh and the coaching staff need to do a good job psychologically for his students. It is impossible to predict what will happen on the day when the young players will play sublimely, and vice versa. HAGL needs a certain mentality before thinking about miracles.
