Coach Văn Sỹ Sơn commended the determination shown by SLNA players following the 1-1 tie with CAHN in the V-League’s seventh round.
On his debut with Sông Lam Nghệ An club, Coach Văn Sỹ Sơn impressed by helping the home team hold the strong CAHN side to a 1-1 draw.
Speaking after the match, Coach Văn Sỹ Sơn said: "When I took over SLNA, I noticed most players are still very young. So I really wanted them to show their fighting spirit in today’s match. We may be outclassed in skill, but our spirit must never be defeated. That is SLNA’s identity.
If any player on the field lacks passion or intensity, they will definitely be left behind. But what I am most satisfied with today is their spirit. Today, their fighting spirit was clearly demonstrated," he added.
Against a strong opponent, the home team at Vinh played safely and carefully seized counterattack chances. However, the surprise came when Lê Nguyên Hoàng scored a beautiful free kick to put the hosts ahead. It wasn’t until the second half that the visitors equalized from a penalty.
According to Coach Văn Sỹ Sơn, the challenges ahead for SLNA are significant, but he trusts the young squad’s spirit: "I need to restore balance for the players, helping them gain confidence to approach matches better. I always believe in SLNA’s youth. They have energy, and we just need to fuel their enthusiasm. If we want them to perform explosively, that will definitely have to wait until phase two, when I can reassess and adjust some positions in the team.
In reality, SLNA hasn’t yet reached the general standard of the V-League. Their stamina is somewhat weak. Hopefully, they will improve much more in the near future,"Coach Văn Sỹ Sơn evaluated.