Is this Lê Giang Patrik's first time?

The emergence of new face Le Giang Patrik will make the competition for the goalkeeper position in the Vietnamese national team extremely exciting.

LEE WON -JAE'S HEADACHE

Under coach Kim Sang-sik, the position of the number one goalkeeper for the Vietnamese national team has never been untouchable. Dang Van Lam (Ninh Binh FC) was once the best goalkeeper under coach Park Hang-seo thanks to his extensive international experience, good reflexes, and ability to command the defense, but he was often overlooked by Kim. Nguyen Filip ( Hanoi Police FC), highly regarded for his ideal physique of 1.92m and good footwork, was only trusted at certain times. Besides him, there is Nguyen Dinh Trieu (Hai Phong FC), the starting goalkeeper in the 2024 AFF Cup-winning team, who always showed focus and stability. Tran Trung Kien (HAGL), a 1.91m tall goalkeeper, is emerging as one of the most noteworthy young talents in Vietnamese football. He recently had an impressive performance for the Vietnam U23 team, showing great potential for the future.

In this context, the emergence of Le Giang Patrik (Ho Chi Minh City Police FC) is attracting much attention. This 1.88m tall goalkeeper has maintained very consistent form recently. Not only does he possess a good physique, but he also impresses with his quick reflexes and reliability in crucial saves. Coach Kim Sang-sik proactively requested the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) to submit a request to the Ministry of Justice to facilitate Le Giang Patrik's naturalization process. This shows that the South Korean coach highly values ​​the goalkeeper's abilities and wants to quickly add a quality option to the national team.

Le Giang Patrik has an impressive ability to move in and out of spaces and command them effectively.

PHOTO: DONG NGUYEN KHANG

Now that he has completed the naturalization process, Le Giang Patrik can truly create competition for the goalkeeper position in the Vietnamese national team. His arrival not only increases the depth of the squad but also motivates other goalkeepers to strive harder in the race for the starting position. And the job of goalkeeping coach Lee Won-jae in the upcoming training camp will be much more challenging.

STRENGTHS OF LE GIANG PATRIK

According to former national team player and coach Nguyen Tuan Phong, the competition for the goalkeeper position in the Vietnamese national team is currently quite balanced, as each player has their own strengths. Coach Phong highly praised Le Giang Patrik's recent form. He commented: "Patrik's form is very good. He handles situations quickly and safely. His footwork isn't outstanding, but it's still good enough to meet requirements. Patrik's biggest strength is his reflexes and saves. His style is similar to David De Gea's, with very quick reflexes. In one-on-one situations, Patrik also performs well, possessing authority and tenacity that makes opponents hesitant."

Meanwhile, Nguyen Filip is a goalkeeper with better footwork skills than most Vietnamese goalkeepers. However, according to coach Nguyen Tuan Phong: "Filip has good footwork, but sometimes makes mistakes because he is too confident in his ability to handle the ball with his feet. Filip's mentality in matches is also not always truly stable."

Coach Nguyen Tuan Phong further assessed the remaining goalkeepers: "Van Lam isn't particularly good at handling the ball with his feet, but his reflexes are still quite good. His international experience is also a big advantage. Dinh Trieu has a height limitation. Meanwhile, Trung Kien needs to gain more experience; he could become the number one goalkeeper for the Vietnamese national team in the future."

With Malaysia likely to have 6 points deducted due to the naturalization scandal, Vietnam's qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup is almost certainly in their hands. Therefore, it would not be surprising if coach Kim gives a chance to newcomer Le Giang Patrik in the match against Malaysia on March 31st.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lan-dau-cho-le-giang-patrik-185260312194115355.htm