Coach Lê Huỳnh Đức comments on the performance of the 1.90m tall overseas Vietnamese player

Coach Lê Huỳnh Đức acknowledges that Lee Williams requires additional time to adapt and build chemistry with Tiến Linh after Công an TP.HCM’s scoreless tie against Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh.

The 0-0 draw against Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh on the evening of October 19 at Thống Nhất Stadium ended with disappointment for Coach Lê Huỳnh Đức and the Công an TP.HCM club. Although they only secured 1 point, this result was considered “fortunate” since the home team played with one less player from the middle of the second half due to Võ Huy Toàn receiving a second yellow card.

Coach Lê Huỳnh Đức openly shared: “We aimed for 3 points, but in the situation of being a man down, holding on to 1 point is a commendable effort by the players. They fought hard to keep the team from collapsing.”

In this match, Công an TP.HCM fielded a lineup including 5 foreign and overseas Vietnamese players: Matheus Felipe, Makrillos Peter, Patrik Lê Giang, Lee Williams, and Utizig Raphael. However, Raphael unexpectedly got injured just before kickoff, forcing Coach Lê Huỳnh Đức to adjust his tactics. He also revealed that Nguyễn Thái Quốc Cường was only on the bench due to not being fully fit after returning from the national team.

Coach Lê Huỳnh Đức candidly stated: “I chose a 4-4-2 formation to leverage Lee Williams’ ability to drive forward and hold up the ball, but he still needs more time. The coordination between Williams and Tiến Linh isn’t good yet; many movements were not synchronized, causing missed chances.”

Up front, the duo of Tiến Linh and Lee Williams was expected to create a strong attacking force, but reality did not meet those expectations. Lee Williams, the overseas Vietnamese player regarded as a “wild card” this season, has yet to show full integration. He moves actively, can hold and turn with the ball well, but lacks connection with his teammates, especially Tiến Linh.

Clearly, Lee Williams is still in the process of adjusting to the pace and style of play in the V-League. If he can quickly find mutual understanding with Tiến Linh, he could become a key piece in Coach Lê Huỳnh Đức’s attacking plans moving forward.