Despite falling into a serious crisis, Thanh Hoa club still created a big surprise when defeating Ho Chi Minh City Police with a score of 2-1 right at Thong Nhat Stadium, in round 13 of V.League 2025-2026 on the evening of February 8.
After the match, coach Mai Xuan Hop could not hide his emotion. The Thanh Hoa coach sent thanks to the players as well as Thanh fans present in the stands of Thong Nhat Stadium, in the context that the team only has 14 players fit enough to play.
Coach Mai Xuan Hop said that the coaching staff must carefully calculate each personnel plan to limit the risk of injury.
He shared the spiritual motivation he conveyed to the players: "I just say to you guys, play football for the audience to love. Burn yourself out for the people to see. Play for passion, for the colors of the Thanh Hoa flag. No team has done like Thanh Hoa to this day".
This coach also praised Damoth Thongkhamsavat, a Lao foreign player who shone with a double goal. Besides, he expressed concern about the fitness of young striker Nguyen Ngoc My after a period of dense competition with U23 Vietnam.
Coach Mai Xuan Hop revealed that in a difficult situation, even reserve goalkeeper Trinh Xuan Hoang is ready to be pushed up to play as a striker if the team is short of players.
On the opposite side, coach Le Huynh Duc frankly admitted that Ho Chi Minh City Police Club faced many difficulties against Thanh Hoa's fierce and continuous pressing style from the beginning of the match.
He believes that the away team created great pressure, preventing his players from deploying the desired game.
Despite controlling the ball a lot and creating many chances, Ho Chi Minh City Police Club still had to pay the price for ineffective finishing ability. Coach Le Huynh Duc said: "Both teams played well. We did not play badly, created more chances but did not score.
Meanwhile, the opponent has a good spirit and has 2 beautiful goals. That's football, attacking a lot but not taking advantage of it will lead to failure.
Regarding Tien Linh's injury situation, coach Le Huynh Duc said: "This type of injury is very persistent. Because there is strength, it hurts every hard touch. Tien Linh has an ankle, relapses many times. Endrick is also like that. That is why the players' form is difficult to maintain at a high level.
Assessing goalkeeper Le Giang Patrik - who just got Vietnamese citizenship, coach Le Huynh Duc affirmed that this player is completely worthy of being considered for the national team if he continues to maintain stable form.
He said: "If Le Giang Patrik maintains good form, he is completely worthy of a spot on the Vietnamese national team. However, each coach has their own thing.
