'You will fall behind if you keep looking back'

Ahead of the 2024 Asian Cup, midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai said he has never been satisfied with success, cherishes his time at Pau FC and feels more responsible when starting a family.

Quang Hai (right) and Chu Thanh Huyen at the engagement ceremony on December 20 in Hanoi . Photo: *Xuan Huyen*

- Why is Quang Hai not playing as expected at Pau FC?

- Whether I meet expectations or not is only for me to know, I cannot explain it to everyone. But I feel satisfied because I dare to do, dare to experience and face things that I only dared to think about before.

When I first arrived in Pau, there were nights when I woke up, opened my eyes and looked at the ceiling and wondered why I was there. I came to a team where I was the only Asian and at first, I had a culture shock. I was used to being introverted, in a place where people were always open about their dissatisfaction. I understood that I had to learn and adapt or I would be at a disadvantage. After a while, I was able to express my personal opinions and criticize others, and that was a maturity of thinking.

I also talked a lot with head coach Didier Tholot. When I was not playing, I went to him to ask what I was lacking. Tholot was also very straightforward in telling me that I had to supplement this, practice that to improve.

- So what do you lack that you cannot meet the requirements of Ligue 2?

- I think it's partly due to the collision. There's a lot of collision in this tournament and my body is too small so I'm at a disadvantage. But technically, I feel more complete.

When people said that I often made decisions on the pitch faster than my teammates, I asked Technical Director Joel Lopez if I needed to make any adjustments. He advised me not to slow down but to improve my accuracy because this team does not allow slow players. If I slow down, my small size will be at a disadvantage when it comes to a challenge.

Quang Hai (middle) could not compete for an official position at Pau FC. After one year, he played 13 matches with 268 minutes for the first team, seven matches with 579 minutes for the reserve team. Photo: *Pau FC*

- Is there any difference between Pau FC and the places Quang Hai used to play?

- Every training session there is a battle without compromise or relaxation. There are up to 30 people competing for 18 official registration spots each match. From then on, I sympathize more with those who go abroad like Cong Phuong, Van Toan...

Preparation for a Ligue 2 match is very different from V-League. Pau has good preparation in terms of nutrition and training volume. They analyze each training session, evaluate the players' performance to request suitable tactics.

Although Pau is a second-class club, they pay a lot of attention to recovery. When we soak in the hot tub, they add a compound that penetrates the muscles to speed up the recovery process instead of just soaking in ice. The team of doctors specializes in diagnosis, massage, bones and joints... The nutritionist gives advice on eating, what to eat tomorrow, what to eat close to the match day, what to eat after the match. They also have a psychologist to help relieve the players when they encounter difficulties and pressure to play at their best. I still apply what I learned from that time. Now Vietnamese players also pay attention to nutrition, training, and self-study because each person's body is different.

- Have you ever thought that if you went to a more culturally compatible country like Japan, things might be different?

- When I decided to go to France, I just thought that I needed to step out and experience something completely new. For example, you talk about machines, certain indicators in a place you have never been to but now you have experienced it directly. It is really interesting and shows how great and vast world football is.

- But it seems like you still haven't found yourself when playing for Hanoi Police. Is it possible that returning to V-League makes you lose motivation?

- I went to France for a year but didn't get to play much. That affected my feelings a lot. That's also the reason I terminated my contract to return. I lost a match and couldn't sleep, so not being able to play was very annoying. A football career is not long.

I never lack motivation, because my motivation is simply to do well in the present. I am not satisfied with what I have, and so I can do nothing but work harder. Football has its ups and downs, but you have to give your best. I believe that those who always try will surely succeed - even if it is late, those who give up are preparing for failure.

- But in reality, after a very successful period of Vietnamese football, the U23 team of Thuong Chau has shown signs of slowing down in both achievements and influence, including Quang Hai?

- It's about timing, it's about each player having to look back at themselves and determine what their new source of motivation is.

- Looking ahead to the second Asian Cup of his career, what are Quang Hai's expectations?

- Facing Japan at this time is very memorable. The whole team has to try harder than we have and of course we have a chance to create a surprise. I am waiting for coach Philippe Troussier to give us clear goals for each match so that we know what to do, and hopefully we will have luck with us.

Quang Hai played when Vietnam beat Syria 1-0 in a friendly match at Thien Truong Stadium on June 20. Photo: *Lam Thoa*

- By the way, let's talk a little about Coach Trousier. How do you feel about the new captain of the Vietnam team?

- During my time playing for Pau FC, around the beginning of February 2023, I had the opportunity to meet Coach Troussier. That day was simply a meeting, when I went to Paris with the club to play. Actually, I have known him since working at the PVF Youth Football Training Center. When he learned that there were Vietnamese players playing in France, he made an appointment to meet because he was also a close friend of Pau FC President Bernard Laporte-Fray. Troussier is a close person.

When I worked with him on the national team, I found him to be very meticulous and especially enthusiastic. He always encouraged and motivated the players throughout the training session. Not many coaches can do that.

- But in terms of results, what happened under Troussier is still controversial. Inside the team, how do the players feel?

- No matter what happens, unity and determination will never be lost. They are the factors that create the strength of Vietnamese football. From that foundation, if we just push further, we can do extraordinary things.

- But it cannot be denied that the great success under Coach Park Hang-seo still creates invisible pressure, not to mention the difficulty in adapting to Coach Troussier's new playing style?

- I don't think so. I usually forget yesterday's match and look forward to tomorrow's match. The future doesn't wait for anyone so you have to work hard, if you keep looking back at the past, you will be left behind. I don't know what others think but saying it's difficult to adapt to a new style of play is not entirely correct, what's important is the player's effort and will.

- Your personal life is about to take a new step, when you marry your girlfriend Chu Thanh Huyen. How did this decision come about?

- I hope to receive blessings from everyone. We have experienced many emotions and special moments together and feel that it is time to take the next step. This decision creates both more responsibility and new motivation.

Our relationship has faced a lot of noise in the past, but that is an inevitable part of life that you cannot erase. I cherish what accompanies me.

- What would Quang Hai be like in family life?

- Definitely more responsibility. I have been away from home since I was young so I want to focus on my family as much as possible. When I first came to Pau FC, I felt extremely lonely. I just practiced and then went home, sometimes I went for a walk to relax.

- You often mention the determination of a player. So how can a player with enough money and reputation maintain professional discipline and control the spotlight?

- It is difficult to measure what is famous and rich, but what I have today, besides my own efforts, is also being loved by everyone. Therefore, I always try to keep myself pure and simple. I am now more mature, think about things in more multi-dimensional ways and feel I have the responsibility to do more useful things for society.

Quang Hai, born in 1997, grew up at the Hanoi Youth Football Training Center, won national youth tournaments with the U19 and U21 Hanoi teams from 2014 to 2016. He was then promoted to the first team of Hanoi T&T (now Hanoi FC) when he was only 19 years old. He won the V-League in 2016, 2018, 2019, the National Cup in 2019, 2020 and the National Super Cup in 2019, 2020.

Quang Hai was an important factor in helping Vietnam win the 2018 AFC U23 Championship runner-up with five goals, including a free kick dubbed "rainbow in the snow" in the final match against Uzbekistan. At the national team level, Quang Hai won the 2018 AFF Cup, won the title of best player of the tournament and also won the Vietnam Golden Ball. He was also a key factor in helping the team enter the third qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup for the first time. He completed the titles when he and Vietnam won the 2019 SEA Games gold medal despite being injured and missing the entire tournament in the third match of the group stage.

After his contract with Hanoi FC expired, Quang Hai did not renew it but decided to become the first Vietnamese player to play in France, for Pau FC in Ligue 2 in 2022. A year later, he returned to play for Hanoi Police and immediately won the V-League championship.

Hieu Luong

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