Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem: 'Hai Phong Club is inferior to Thanh Hoa in terms of spirit and desire'

Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem made a notable observation after the emotional draw, pointing out the key difference between Hai Phong and Thanh Hoa at the decisive moment.

The 3-3 draw between Hai Phong and Thanh Hoa in round 14 of the V-League concluded with mixed emotions. While the away team was satisfied with a resilient comeback, the home side, the Port team, regretted squandering a significant advantage. Accordingly, Hai Phong Club led 3-1 in the second half, but Thanh Hoa Club scored two emotional goals in quick succession to salvage a point. After the match, Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem drew attention with his candid remarks, particularly when he admitted that Hai Phong was outmatched by their opponent in competitive spirit.

The Hai Phong tactician did not shirk responsibility when analyzing the reasons his team let the victory slip away. He stated clearly: "I am sad; competitive spirit is very important. Thanh Hoa faced difficulties but they played well. Hai Phong is not equal to Thanh Hoa in terms of spirit and desire". This assessment quickly became the biggest highlight following the dramatic match at Lach Tray Stadium.

According to Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem, the real turning point came when Hai Phong increased the lead to 3-1 and seemed to have complete control of the match. He analyzed: "The players dropped their intensity after leading 3-1, while the opponent surged forward. After scoring to make it 3-1, I substituted some players to adjust, but the team lost its game plan and their spirit almost completely dropped". This psychological decline caused the home team to lose control of the match in a short period.

Meanwhile, Thanh Hoa displayed a completely opposite image. Despite falling behind twice, the away team maintained constant pressure and capitalized well on their opportunities. The two late goals demonstrated great perseverance and determination, qualities which the Hai Phong coach himself admitted his team lacked at the crucial moment.

Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem also acknowledged that the recent poor run of results is not entirely due to technical quality. He shared: "Hai Phong is not inferior in skill; they only lose at decisive moments and lack concentration during critical periods". This is seen as a clear warning about the issue of match psychology, a factor directly affecting the Port team's performance.

Despite his disappointment with the result, this strategist still praised a standout individual from the opponent's side. He remarked: "Van Tung played very well. He is passionate, has a good long shot, and is still hungry. He is a player with potential". The post-match comments from Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem not only reflect Hai Phong's regret but also highlight the difference in spirit— the factor that helped Thanh Hoa leave the field with a valuable point.