Goalkeeper Nguyen Manh is ready to play as a forward for Nam Dinh Club.

28/10/2025 06:52:00 soccer

In the face of a shortage of players in the team, goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh is willing to play as a forward, which is not his usual position, following the coaching staff’s arrangement.

Nam Dinh Steel Blue Club held SHB Da Nang to a 1-1 draw in the 89th minute, thereby avoiding defeat in the debut match of new coach Nguyen Trung Kien in the 8th round of the 2025/26 V.League. The game at Thien Truong Stadium revealed the host's squad difficulties, with many key players missing due to injuries and flu. The lineup was patched together, with only 5 substitutes available, including two goalkeepers, to meet registration rules.

Goalkeeper Nguyen Manh can perform well as a forward. Photo: VPF

Goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh said after the match: "Recently, Nam Dinh has faced many difficulties as we have not achieved results expected to repay the support of our fans. Nevertheless, the entire team is striving to improve day by day. In this match, we could only register 4 substitutes due to injuries and illness. However, the players competed with determination and never gave up, which is very commendable."

Regarding the personnel situation, Nguyen Manh revealed: "Before the match, the coaching staff discussed with me the possibility of playing in a different position, even as a forward, to make up for the shortage of players. I am ready to take on this role if the team needs me, and the goalkeeper position can be replaced by someone else."

Speaking about coach Vu Hong Viet’s resignation, Nguyen Manh expressed: "Coach Vu Hong Viet has been with the team for a long time and brought many successes. The entire team highly values his efforts. However, football always has challenging periods. Currently, we are trying game by game to return to the winning path."

New coach Nguyen Trung Kien, who replaced Vu Hong Viet, said: "I am quite satisfied with this draw because our goal was to avoid defeat. The players tried their best despite the incomplete squad. Nam Dinh is going through a difficult phase, but we have not given up the aim to win the championship. The coaching staff is carefully analyzing each opponent to devise appropriate tactics, such as limiting SHB Da Nang’s long-ball style in this match. The most important thing now is to awaken the whole team’s fighting spirit."

Coach Kien emphasized: "In the upcoming matches, we will continue to adjust tactics based on the opponents. Nam Dinh has not made significant changes yet, but the priority is to rebuild morale and confidence to achieve a winning streak."

In round 9, Nam Dinh Steel Blue will play away at Pleiku Stadium against Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) on October 31.

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