Thanh Hóa faces the strongest V-League team at a difficult time

Thanh Hóa FC must welcome CAHN while dealing with a significant lack of personnel.

“This is an extremely tough contest because the opponent is very strong and has many national team players. Playing at home, our goal is still to try to earn points.”, Coach Mai Xuân Hợp shared when discussing the upcoming match against Hanoi Police. This statement partly reveals how well the Thanh Hóa club’s coach understands the magnitude of the challenge ahead.

After a 2-1 victory over Ho Chi Minh City Police in round 13, the Thanh Hóa team immediately returned to their base to continue training. They maintained their routine until February 14, the 27th day of the Lunar New Year, before officially allowing players to rest and reunite with their families. The break was brief as the entire squad had to regroup shortly after.

According to the plan, on February 19 (the 3rd day of Tet), Thanh Hóa will gather to prepare for the postponed round 10 match scheduled for February 24. This is a critical time to carefully consider both physical condition and squad selection, as the opponent is not only strong but has also maintained continuous play throughout the Tet holiday with almost no rest.

Currently, CAHN sits firmly at the top with 29 points. Coach Mano Polking’s team boasts impressive squad depth and consistent form, giving them a significant advantage heading into crucial matches. Facing such a team right after a short break is clearly a difficult challenge for Thanh Hóa.

Moreover, the home team’s roster is already very limited. The registered squad includes only 17 players, with one foreigner and three goalkeepers. In extreme cases, the two goalkeepers might have to be deployed in other positions if teammates encounter problems. This patchwork arrangement leaves almost no room for rotation.

Nevertheless, Thanh Hóa’s morale is high after two matches that pleased their fans: a 2-2 draw with Nam Định followed by a 2-1 away win against Ho Chi Minh City Police. These results give hope that, despite being underestimated, Coach Mai Xuân Hợp’s team can still cause an upset if they continue to play with determination and unity as they have recently.

Severely short on players, Thanh Hóa FC continues to lose personnel

Tô Văn Vũ and Bùi Tiến Dũng support Thanh Hóa FC to overcome difficulties