Thanh Hoa's new period of instability

Thanh Hoa lost 1-2 to Hai Phong in round 23 - Photo: VPF .

“I want to apologize to Thanh Hoa fans. They always cheer us on but the team lost another match, the fourth match in a row. After this press conference, I will express my wish to terminate the contract with the club's CEO,” coach Tomislav Steinbruckner told the media after Thanh Hoa's loss to Hai Phong in round 23.

A sad ending, but not surprising to those who have followed Thanh Hoa's journey since coach Steinbruckner took over. Under his leadership, the Thanh Hoa team only won 1, drew 1 and lost 5. That alarming result caused the team, which was competing for medals, to fall from 7th place on the rankings, far behind the top group in terms of points and losing both spirit and confidence.

The match against Hai Phong was a clear example of Thanh Hoa's stalemate. They were behind 0-2 after defensive mistakes and could only pull one goal back thanks to Le Van Thuan in the 63rd minute.

This is the fourth consecutive loss for the Thanh Hoa team. Among them, there were bitter defeats against lower-ranked opponents such as Ho Chi Minh City (1-2) and especially the loss to the bottom-ranked team Da Nang (0-1), which left Thanh Hoa fans disappointed.

It is worth mentioning that Thanh Hoa's decline in form occurred right after coach Velizar Popov left the team. From being one of the teams with the clearest playing style in V.League, Thanh Hoa became disjointed and ineffective. It is not an exaggeration to say that this team has not yet escaped the huge shadow of coach Popov.

Thanh Hoa fell to 7th place - Photo: VPF.

Under the coach born in 1976, Thanh Hoa stands out with disciplined play, good physical strength, high pressing and sharp transitions. That tactical operation is associated with a number of individuals who were "breathed into" by coach Popov such as Thai Son, Doan Ngoc Tan or Hoang Thai Binh.

These players played brilliantly under the Bulgarian coach. When coach Popov left, not only the playing philosophy but also the people who fit that philosophy lacked cohesion.

Coach Steinbruckner, who had worked in Malaysia, could not convey the same tactical sharpness. Thanh Hoa's playing style under him became disoriented, loose in organization and vulnerable to counterattacks.

The thin, low-depth squad makes rotating and adjusting personnel during a long season an overwhelming problem. In a tournament that requires stability like V.League, that makes coach Tomislav lose his position early.

The resignation of coach Steinbruckner is a typical example of the harshness of the “hot seat” in V.League. Just one series of unsatisfactory matches, the pressure from fans and even from the dressing room will be piled on the coach’s shoulders. In a football environment where patience always has its limits, even for experienced coaches, staying strong is not easy.

Thanh Hoa is now facing a new period of instability. Changing the coach in the middle of the season may help them find a temporary spiritual “medicine”, but the long-term question remains, who is capable of reviving the team and starting over from the ashes? After all, the story in Thanh Hoa is also a lesson for any team in the V.League. That is, do not expect miracles without deep enough preparation in both human resources and orientation.

Source: https://znews.vn/giai-doan-bat-on-moi-cua-thanh-hoa-post1553621.html