Hot: 'Vietnamese Maradona' Lu Dinh Tuan leads Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club to AFC Champions League semi-finals

It is expected that on the afternoon of May 8, the Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club will move to Hanoi to prepare for training before playing the AFC Champions League semi-finals with new head coach Lu Dinh Tuan.

Coach Lu Dinh Tuan when he was leading Binh Duong Club

Photo: Kha Hoa

Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club invites coach Lu Dinh Tuan to replace Mr. Nguyen Hong Pham

In the AFC Champions League 2024 - 2025, the Organizing Committee requires head coaches to have a Pro certificate, which is the highest level of coaching in the AFC's qualification system. Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club "follows the local customs" and cannot make an exception.

To comply with this regulation, Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club appointed coach Nguyen Hong Pham as "captain" while coach Kim Chi, who was the head coach in domestic tournaments, took the role of assistant coach in the recent group stage and quarter-finals.

It can be seen that the Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club played impressively, overcoming many difficulties thanks to the good understanding and coordination between former famous player Hong Pham and junior coach Kim Chi, who has a deep understanding of the strengths, weaknesses and thoughts of each player.

Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club practices at Tao Dan Stadium (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City)

Photo: Quoc Viet

This is demonstrated by the way Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club, despite being unfamiliar with the big game for the first time, has excelled in the group stage, especially the comeback in the quarter-finals against Abu Dhabi Club with a score of 5-4 at Thong Nhat Stadium.

However, because coach Nguyen Hong Pham is busy with personal matters, the head coach position will be taken over by coach Lu Dinh Tuan. He has an illustrious playing career and was once referred to by the press as "Vietnam's Maradona". Mr. Tuan was an assistant to the Vietnam national team under coach Park Hang-seo, and led Ho Chi Minh City Club and Binh Duong Club in the V-League.

Know yourself and your opponent

Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club will train in Hanoi from May 8 to 17, before flying to Wuhan City (China) to play Wuhan Jiangda Club in the AFC Champions League semi-finals on May 21.

The joy of victory of Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club against Abu Dhabi Club

Photo: Kha Hoa

The opponent is considered a strong team, with many stars and especially home field advantage. Therefore, the HCMC Women's Club will have to approach the match with a wise and patient "know yourself, know your opponent" strategy.

This is also the forte of Coach Lu Dinh Tuan since his time leading Saigon Port Club and later Ho Chi Minh City Club and Binh Duong Club. It should also be added that Coach Lu Dinh Tuan spent his entire playing career for Saigon Port Club and most of his time coaching Ho Chi Minh City teams.

It is expected that the Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club will train in Hanoi from May 8-17, before flying to Wuhan (China) to prepare for the AFC Champions League semi-final with the goal of reaching the final. However, Vietnamese-American midfielder Chelsea Le will not be present due to personal reasons.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nong-maradona-viet-nam-lu-dinh-tuan-dan-dat-clb-nu-tphcm-da-ban-ket-afc-champions-league-185250507183323289.htm