Nguyen Filip was shocked by the reaction of Vietnamese players.

Nguyen Filip was shocked by the Vietnamese player's reaction when criticized. Photo: CAHN .

“In Europe, it is very normal for players to give feedback and even yell at each other on the field. When playing, everyone expects their teammates to complete their tasks well, so if necessary, they will loudly remind them. But in Vietnam, it is different. Once I yelled at my teammates because of a positional error, some of them were annoyed and even argued back. I had to say directly: 'If you don't want to improve yourself, that's fine. But please fulfill your responsibilities on the field.' Many times, they even pretended not to hear or understand what I said," Filip shared on a Vietnamese media channel recently.

The goalkeeper also admitted that no one likes to be criticized, including him. But what makes him different is how he accepts the feedback. “I always ask the goalkeeper coach to point out my mistakes, even when he says I played well. I still ask: 'Are you sure? I think I can do better'. For me, every mistake is a lesson. Even if we win 1-0, I will not be satisfied if I feel I have not done my job,” the 33-year-old goalkeeper affirmed.

What surprised the CAHN goalkeeper even more was the safe mentality and fear of change of most Vietnamese players. He frankly commented that in Europe, everyone dreams of playing abroad and conquering big tournaments. But in Vietnam, most players only want to play domestically. The reason is because in Vietnam, these players are stars.

“In Vietnam, players have everything. They don’t need to learn a new language, don’t have to worry about integrating. Moreover, they are big stars here, have very stable incomes, and are admired by many people. Once they get used to being a star in the country, they no longer have the motivation to go further. But abroad, no one will know who you are,” he continued.

However, Filip still has a lot of respect for Vietnamese players with a progressive mindset. He especially mentioned Tuan Hai, whom Filip considers the most professional player in Vietnam. “I really respect him. From the club to the national team, Tuan Hai always tries his best to learn English to prepare for his journey abroad. That desire to learn is truly admirable,” Filip expressed.

Nguyen Filip commented that Vietnamese players do not like being criticized and do not like going abroad. Photo: CAHN.

In addition to Tuan Hai, Filip also mentioned Minh Phuc, a young player of CAHN. He said: “During training sessions, I still shout loudly to remind. Many players do not like that, but Minh Phuc is different. He always listens, and after training sessions, he comes to thank me for giving advice and pushing him to improve. That attitude makes me very happy."

Filip also highly appreciates goalkeeper Sy Huy, who is making rapid progress in the V.League. He said he is always ready to help young colleagues who listen and are eager to develop. “I believe Sy Huy is capable of being the main goalkeeper for 90% of the clubs in the V.League. If many Vietnamese players have the same aspiration, Vietnamese football will develop very quickly,” Filip affirmed.

“Football is a game where everyone can make mistakes. But the most important thing is how you react to them. There are people who are indifferent to mistakes, as if it were nothing. I am different. I always try not to make the same mistakes. It annoys me when I see others make mistakes and then say: 'Never mind, it's okay'. I see that happening quite often here,” Filip said frankly.

He also understands that saying these things can lead to criticism. “I know some people will not like to hear me say that. But I do not intend to offend anyone. What I share simply comes from the desire for Vietnamese football to be better,” Filip concluded.

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