Taller than Bui Hoang Viet Anh, the new U.23 Vietnam recruit has great expectations.

In the list of 28 players gathered in the U.23 Vietnam team to prepare for the 2024 AFC U.23 Championship, Nguyen Thanh Khai is a rather unfamiliar name to fans. Initially, he was not on the preliminary list of 50 players submitted by coach Troussier to the Asian Football Federation. This central defender is one of the 5 faces that coach Hoang Anh Tuan later added.

Rookie admits to feeling pressure

Nguyen Thanh Khai is a player currently playing for Da Nang Club, playing in the national first division. This central defender has an ideal height of 1.87 m (higher than his seniors Doan Van Hau - 1.85 m tall; Bui Hoang Viet Anh 1.86 m). With a beautiful physique, Thanh Khai is expected to become a "steel shield" in the defense of U.23 Vietnam.

Rookie Thanh Khai admits feeling pressured the first time he was called up to U.23 Vietnam

At the training session with the whole team, Thanh Khai was appointed by coach Hoang Anh Tuan to appear before the media. The central defender born in 2002 shared: "I am very happy and excited, but also quite surprised to be on the list to train with the U.23 Vietnam team this time. I myself am a rookie, so the integration is a bit difficult and stressful. But up to this point, everything is progressing well thanks to the support of the teachers and teammates. Meanwhile, the whole team is enthusiastically practicing and united because most of the U.23 Vietnam players have known each other before."

The player of Da Nang Club also revealed the reminder of Coach Hoang Anh Tuan before entering the journey to conquer the 2024 AFC U23 Championship. Thanh Khai said: "The head coach told the whole team to be united, consider U23 Vietnam as a family and aim for a common goal. For myself, I came here to learn from experience, try my best to improve myself, and adapt well to the tactics of the coaching staff."

Center back Nguyen Thanh Khai (left cover) has an ideal physique.

Help U.23 Vietnam more confident?

In the 2023 season, Nguyen Thanh Khai was the captain of the Da Nang youth team that reached the final of the national second division (losing to Dak Lak team with a score of 0-2). This central defender is an indispensable factor in coach Vo Phuoc's squad.

In the 2023-2024 season, this 22-year-old central defender was given the opportunity by coach Truong Viet Hoang to play for the Da Nang first team, when he registered for the second phase of the national first division.

Thanh Khai has just been added to the first team of Da Nang Club.

Thanh Khai is considered a central defender with a fierce playing style, not afraid to compete and good at reading situations. With the appearance of a central defender with a beautiful physique like Thanh Khai, the defense of U.23 Vietnam promises to be more solid when competing in continental tournaments.

Besides, another central defender of U.23 Vietnam, Luong Duy Cuong, is also playing for Da Nang Club. These two players could form a good central defender duo of U.23 Vietnam.

Vietnam U.23 will begin moving to Qatar from April 8. According to the plan, coach Hoang Anh Tuan's team will have 2 days of training in the West Asian country, before playing a friendly match with Jordan U.23 on April 10.

At the 2024 AFC U-23 Championship, the Vietnam U-23 team is in the same group with Kuwait U-23, Malaysia U-23 and Uzbekistan U-23. Khuat Van Khang and his teammates will play the opening match of the 2024 AFC U-23 Championship against Kuwait U-23 at 10:30 p.m. on April 17 (Vietnam time).

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/cao-hon-ca-bui-hoang-viet-anh-tan-binh-u23-viet-nam-duoc-ky-vong-cuc-lon-185240407150400461.htm