Coach Harry Kewell's unfortunate failure
There were many "ifs" in the loss on the debut day of coach Harry Kewell at Hanoi FC.
If the goalposts and crossbar had not denied the Australian coach's team three times (a rare occurrence in the V-League), if goalkeeper Van Lam had not made consecutive saves, or if Hai Long, Van Quyet, and Dani Passira had been more decisive, at least the Hanoi team would not have lost.
However, it was a failure that brought seeds of hope. Although he had only been in the job for less than 2 weeks, the former Liverpool striker breathed new life into the team. Hanoi FC shed their worn-out appearance, showed a different image and only needed a little luck to win.
Hanoi Club (white shirt) lost regrettably
PHOTO: MINH TU
Last night (October 18), Hanoi FC played their best match since the beginning of the tournament. With Do Hoang Hen acting as the "engine oil" to lubricate the attacking system, Coach Kewell's students continuously pressed the entire field, not allowing Ninh Binh to develop the ball. The familiar smooth passing phases that made Hanoi's brand with Hung Dung, Willian Maranhao, Hai Long, Do Hoang Hen put suffocating pressure on Van Lam's goal.
The only difference is that coach Kewell's team plays faster, more pragmatically and overwhelms opponents with speed, instead of playing "slowly", somewhat slow and indecisive in times of crisis.
To have a good match, coach Kewell boldly let captain Van Quyet sit out, giving way to more aggressive and combative players.
Highlight of Hanoi FC 1-2 Ninh Binh: Sad debut day of Coach Kewell and Hoang Hen
Hanoi FC played fairly, daring to shoot as soon as a gap opened up. 15 shots were sent towards Van Lam's goal, most of them coming from open play. In the second half, when Hanoi FC often lost their strength and conceded goals, Ninh Binh's goal was shaken by the suffocating pressure.
Coach Kewell believes Hanoi played well, but need more to win
PHOTO: MINH TU
In V-League, not only Hanoi Club can pressure Ninh Binh (Hai Phong and The Cong Viettel did it in the previous match), however, creating a comprehensive superiority game like what Kewell's students did last night is not simple.
What Hanoi Club lacks
Hanoi FC has every reason to be regretful, in an unbelievably unlucky match. However, coach Harry Kewell understands football very well.
He said: "Creating opportunities without scoring means defeat, even though Hanoi FC played well enough to think about winning. Football, after all, is still about scoring goals."
Hanoi FC lost to Ninh Binh team with great mental endurance. Hoang Duc and his teammates were pressured and had to endure defense but did not lose team discipline. When the opportunity came, even if it was just a glimmer, the away team took full advantage.
Ninh Binh FC took advantage of the star moment and knew how to stand up from the wall. Against a strong team, when Hanoi FC was not cold enough to swing the decisive sword, it was understandable that they were counter-attacked in an exposed flank. Coach Kewell probably only needed one match to feel the harshness of V-League. Although Vietnamese football cannot be compared to England or Australia, where he used to work, winning a match here is not a simple thing.
Especially when he is leading the Hanoi team in a "gentle" transition period. The pillars are starting to decline, the next generation is still obscure, foreign players are not yet enough. A collective with identity, ego and ambition but is lost, needs a teacher who is decisive and strong enough to revive.
Van Lam (yellow shirt) saves the goal to help Ninh Binh Club take all 3 points
PHOTO: MINH TU
Harry Kewell, although not really outstanding in his coaching career, but his years of training at Leeds United, Liverpool, and his coaching days in Japan... perhaps helped him understand the personality of the dressing room.
How would European strategists behave? Pragmatic, uncompromising, straightforward, unlike the football culture of many Asian countries where "a hundred words of reason are sometimes worth a few words of love".
That collision could create conflict, if Coach Kewell is not more moderate and flexible, or the Hanoi Club is not open to change. But, that is a matter of the future.
At this point, Hanoi FC has begun to move, even if it is only with the first steps (or even falls). This is a defeat that carries the seeds of hope. How to sow them in the ground and cultivate them is something Kewell and the former V-League champion cannot rush.
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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/khi-hlv-harry-kewell-dam-thay-mau-clb-ha-noi-tan-goc-re-185251019074036118.htm
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