Controversial
If we were to point out a player who demonstrated a turning point in coach Kim Sang-sik's coaching style, it would be Truong Tien Anh. In June 2024, in the first list of the Vietnam National Team under his tenure, the Korean coach decided to remove Truong Tien Anh from the squad. In the two following training sessions in September and October 2024, Mr. Kim also did not choose Tien Anh in his personnel strategy.
Mr. Kim Sang-sik's decision was somewhat harsh on Tien Anh, but that choice received public approval. Because, before that, the player of The Cong Viettel could not prove his ability in the Vietnam National Team, even though his predecessor Philippe Troussier regularly summoned him and put him on the field to play in 3 official matches.
In addition, in the context of Ho Tan Tai and Vu Van Thanh - the veteran right-backs of the Vietnam National Team - being on the bench, Tien Anh's appearance on the field unintentionally created pressure for him. The lack of sharp passing situations, inaccurate finishing moves and a number of dangerous ball losses... caused Tien Anh to receive criticism after a series of defeats of the home team under Mr. Troussier. Along with Phan Tuan Tai and Vo Minh Trong, Tien Anh was considered an unlucky factor under the reign of the French coach.
The worker bee returns diligently
After 3 training sessions without selecting Tien Anh, coach Kim Sang-sik unexpectedly included him again, during the period when the Vietnam National Team is aiming for the AFF Cup 2024. This decision also shows a shift in the Korean strategist's personnel perspective after a long enough time as captain.
Instead of giving opportunities to veterans, Mr. Kim decided to choose players who meet the physical and form criteria for the Vietnam National Team, based on their performance throughout 9 rounds of the 2024-2025 V.League. In particular, Truong Tien Anh has proven his worth with a more convincing performance in the eyes of fans as well as coach Kim Sang-sik.
Tien Anh has continued to maintain his strength in speed and endurance over the past time. He is one of the 5 players who have worked the most for The Cong Viettel this season, with 9 matches and a total of 712 minutes.
In addition, Tien Anh also showed diligence and compliance with the professional decisions of head coach Nguyen Duc Thang. In the last 5 matches, Tien Anh was able to take on positions from the left wing to the right wing in the 3-5-2 formation of the army team. Not only was he hard-working, diligent, and willing to play in different positions, this player also showed his effectiveness in his border climbing situations.
Tien Anh is currently the leading assister of The Cong Viettel, with 3 assists for his teammates, and 1 goal for his team. No other domestic player of The Cong Viettel has had a hand in as many goals as the player born in 1999.
With his impressive performance, it is not surprising that Tien Anh was called up to the Vietnam National Team by Mr. Kim Sang-sik. His versatility in expertise, more effective in creating goals, along with his receptive attitude, has changed the thinking of the national team's head coach.
In the picture of the lack of strong, solid, and energetic full-backs in the Vietnam National Team, the story of Tien Anh being retained to serve the AFF Cup 2024 competition is completely reasonable.
