Vietnam team vs Nepal: Coach Kim Sang Sik in dilemma

Headache about force

Looking at the starting lineup in the first leg at Go Dau Stadium, it is clear to see the intention and goal of coach Kim Sang Sik: to strike first, to decide the match early to create a safe game with the strongest force.

After that, he gradually withdrew the key players to rest and created opportunities for the U23 Vietnam players to enter the field to test themselves… But, that plan partly failed, because Nepal played better than everyone thought.

Hoang Duc returns, but it is difficult to guarantee 100% performance due to overload. Photo: Huu Ha

And in that hard-fought 3-1 victory, coach Kim Sang Sik also had to face problems with his squad when Bui Tien Dung, Thanh Long and then Hoang Duc all had physical problems.

This puts coach Kim Sang Sik in a difficult position. He does not want to change too many personnel to avoid disruption, but if he continues to use overloaded pillars, the risk of serious injury is very high, so he definitely needs to consider.

Dilemma

In theory, Nepal is not a strong opponent to cause difficulties for Vietnam in the second leg, especially when the strength and playing style of the team from South Asia have been deciphered.

However, the pressure on coach Kim Sang Sik and his team is no longer simply 3 points, but a convincing victory, a "beautiful victory" to meet the expectations of the fans. This invisible pressure forces coach Kim Sang Sik to consider continuing to use the most elite force possible.

In addition, some other cases also made coach Kim Sang Sik confused. Photo: Huu Ha

This is where the dilemma arises. The position of Bui Tien Dung, who had a poor performance in the first leg, can be completely replaced by coach Kim Sang Sik with Xuan Manh, or even a young central defender from U23.

But in the case of Jackie Chan (who has been playing very well recently) and especially Hoang Duc, it is a completely different story. The midfield of the Vietnamese team will lose both the ability to control, escape pressing and the creativity to create the ball for the attack.

The solution of using young players also does not really bring peace of mind. Looking at the performance of the U23 players who were put on the field in the first leg such as Thanh Nhan or Dinh Bac, it only stopped at the level of "meeting requirements" instead of meeting the expectation.

Coach Kim Sang Sik uses a strong lineup to ensure a convincing victory, but will face increased injury risks. However, testing new elements has not yet guaranteed effectiveness and stability, so it can be said that the Korean coach is in a "dilemma".

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/tuyen-viet-nam-dau-nepal-hlv-kim-sang-sik-tien-thoai-luong-nan-2451776.html