Korean Coach Speaks Directly About Not Using Vietnam's Top Midfielder

Ninh Binh's 3-0 win against PVF-CAND delivers numerous encouraging signs, in addition to the spotlight on Hoang Duc's absence, with Coach Bae Ji Won providing clarification on the issue.

The 3-0 triumph over PVF-CAND in round 19 of the LPBank V-League 2025/26 allowed Ninh Binh to mark a memorable milestone with new Coach Bae Ji Won's first victory. Alongside a convincing performance, fan attention also concentrated on midfielder Hoang Duc not appearing in the ancient capital team's lineup.

From the first half, Ninh Binh showed initiative by pushing forward with high-speed attacks. Their home advantage helped them continuously apply pressure, forcing the PVF-CAND defense to struggle. The turning point came at minute 35 with Gia Hung's opening goal, before Tran Thanh Trung doubled the lead shortly thereafter. But behind this victory, questions about Hoang Duc began to become the focal point.

In the second half, the match situation still belonged to Ninh Binh as they controlled the tempo well and continued creating many opportunities. Despite PVF-CAND having notable counter-attacks, the home team maintained solidity. At minute 61, Le Van Thuận scored the third goal following Fred Friday's assist, closing the match with a convincing 3-0 victory.

Nevertheless, after the match, the media focus revolved around the decision not to use Hoang Duc. Faced with inquiries, Coach Bae Ji-won candidly shared: "I did not have sufficient information about the team and the players. When I arrived, Hoang Duc was already injured. Therefore, I discussed with Mr. Thanh and we agreed to give Hoang Duc the chance to play in the next match, because if he gets injured again the situation would be very serious. That is the reason he rested in this match."

Not stopping there, the Korean tactician also emphasized his dual role in the team-building process: "I am here to work with two roles. First is the head coach role, and second, I am a fitness coach. That is why I want to assist in the warm-up process, and then work together throughout the entire match preparation process."

Besides the injury factor, he also revealed more about the plan for using Hoang Duc in the near future. "Hoang Duc is now ready to play. However, we want to keep him for more important matches ahead. Next week, the team will face a very strong opponent, so I am considering his return at that time to enhance the team's overall competitiveness."

This result helps Ninh Binh consolidate their third-place position with 37 points, building psychological momentum before the important clash with Hanoi FC. However, clearly the story about Hoang Duc has not cooled down, as fans are awaiting the star's return following the coaching staff's very cautious calculations.