Joelinton, a Brazilian player with a protective physique, shared this after the Champions League round of 16 that Newcastle lost to Barcelona with a total score of 3-8. The 29-year-old player's words both showed feelings of helplessness and affirmed the difference in playing thinking. At Barcelona's La Masia academy, they teach players to think one step ahead of their opponents, not by muscle strength. That is why, through many generations, they train very small players but play football excellently.
Of course, not denying physical fitness, but when you have philosophy, trained thinking and trained skills, Barca is still one of the teams with the most watchable playing style, with the most outstanding factors in the world.
From this perspective, looking at Vietnamese football with the reality that physique is at a disadvantage when stepping onto a big stage. Currently, it should not be seen as an excuse anymore, but as the issue of how to react? Focusing on improving physique is a matter of a century, but changing thinking will be much faster.
Vietnamese football once had slices approaching this direction at Hoang Anh Gia Lai. Although their journey is still unfinished, it is a clear suggestion. The problem is that if you want to change according to the arrow to go up, the whole football background needs to unanimously choose and be loyal to that. The requirement of this problem is to solve the story of achievements that is considered an "incurable disease".
From a larger perspective, this story is not only about football. In work, labor, and study, you choose to do more, try harder, and endure more to compensate for limitations. But sometimes, the problem is not at the level of effort, but at the approach. Knowing how to arrange work, prioritize what needs to be done, and utilize resources, efficiency is even higher.
When thinking ahead, limitations will gradually shrink. When the system operates correctly, weaknesses will be limited. And at some point, the story will no longer be about where we are weak, but how deeply we understand.
