Coach Popov: ‘If things continue like this, Vietnamese football will lose to Nepal, Laos, and Cambodia’

21/10/2025 06:45:00 esportapi

After Thể Công Viettel's comeback victory against SHB Đà Nẵng 2-1 in round 7 of the 2025/26 V-League, coach Velizar Popov not only discussed his team's win but also candidly highlighted the longstanding issues in Vietnamese football.

"In the first 10-15 minutes of the second half, we had clear chances to score 2-3 goals but failed to convert them. Afterwards, they deliberately interrupted the flow of the game — the goalkeeper stayed down for 10 minutes, then another player followed. That is not how football should be played. If things continue like this for the next 2-3 years, Vietnamese football will lose to Nepal, Cambodia, or Bangladesh because those teams genuinely play the sport," Popov said with frustration.

Coach Popov showed dissatisfaction with the frequent stoppages and players repeatedly lying on the field. Photo: Hoàng Linh

When asked about his feelings after the win that allowed Thể Công Viettel to keep chasing Ninh Bình FC at the top of the table, the Bulgarian coach responded: "It doesn't matter if you are the strongest team or not. To become champions, you need factors beyond just playing on the field — and I think you understand what I mean. We are isolated, not part of any system. Facing 13 other teams alone is very tough."

Popov believes it is still too early to call Thể Công Viettel a title contender: "The league is long, with many strong teams. In my view, the biggest and most promising rival is CAHN, along with Ninh Bình, Hà Nội, Nam Định, and Công an TP.HCM."

Regarding the upcoming match, Popov praised the opponent HAGL: "The next game at Pleiku will definitely be challenging. Everyone knows playing there has never been easy. Their current ranking does not truly reflect their ability. Among the remaining away games this season, HAGL is the toughest test."

On the other side, SHB Đà Nẵng coach Lê Đức Tuấn expressed disappointment: "We prepared thoroughly and worked very hard, but some players' fitness was not sufficient. Nevertheless, the whole team followed the tactical plan well. When we realized Viettel lost Tiến Dũng due to a red card, we identified their central defense as a weak spot and exploited it through quick transitions.

My philosophy is ball possession, but when playing away and with an incomplete squad, we had to play defensive counterattacks. The players gave their all, and we will continue to improve in the upcoming matches."

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