Tears and loneliness
The post-match press conference is a familiar part of professional football. After the final whistle, players return to the dressing room, spectators leave one after another, but for the coach and the media, the work is not over yet.
That is where the stories behind the match are recounted. There are press conferences that take place quickly, only a few questions and then end. But there are also press conferences that leave more emotions than what happened on the pitch. Tears, loneliness, choked words or tense debates all appeared in the room that seemed to be only for professional statements.
Few football fields have ever experienced such a lonely feeling as Thanh Hoa stadium. Since the Thanh Hoa team encountered turmoil at the upper echelons, matches with a large number of journalists coming to work have gradually become rare. The peak was the reception of Nam Dinh in the first leg, when Thanh Hoa could only register exactly 17 players for the match.
Most predicted that the home team would suffer a heavy defeat against the opponent's team possessing a star-studded squad worth millions of USD. On the field that day, in addition to the television rights holder, there was only a local newspaper reporter and me - a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper.
I came to the stadium because I understood that Thanh Hoa was facing an extremely difficult period. When Tet Nguyen Dan was approaching, the future of the team was even questioned. The diễn biến of the match seemed to further strengthen the initial predictions. In less than 30 minutes, Thanh Hoa conceded 2 consecutive goals. However, the most surprising thing came afterwards, they resiliently rose up, scored 2 equalizing goals and pulled the match back to the starting line.
In the 90+7 minute, Xuan Son missed a penalty kick. One point remained at Thanh Hoa stadium in the burst of joy of those present in the stands. A boy on duty carrying a stretcher smashed the plastic chair he was sitting on because he could not restrain his emotions before the brave performance of his hometown team.
Inside the press conference room, coach Mai Xuan Hop also could not hide his emotion. He smiled when entering the room with only 3 reporters waiting. When I asked about his feelings after the match, this coach just said briefly that he was "too proud", and asked his students to fight for "people's love".
My two colleagues and I were almost speechless at that simple answer.
No flashing lights continuously flickering. No modern or crowded press conference room. But in that moment, coach Mai Xuan Hop and 17 Thanh Hoa players really shone in the eyes of journalists with their dedication and admirable fighting spirit.
Still at Thanh Hoa stadium, still familiar faces of reporters in the match against Ninh Binh FC. This time, the Thanh team has completed the relegation goal. However, that joy is not completely complete.
Mr. Mai Xuan Hop's voice once again choked up when mentioning the upcoming farewells. Thanh Hoa remains in the V.League but many players who have accompanied the team in difficult times such as Odiljon Abdurakhmanov or Doan Ngoc Tan are preparing to leave.
Mr. Mai Xuan Hop's loneliness is very different from the loneliness of his teacher - coach Philippe Troussier.
Everyone sees the Vietnamese team progressing, except for the Vietnamese media," Mr. Troussier once said at the 2023 Asian Cup.
The French strategist is lonely in a different way. He is lonely amidst the attention of the entire football background. In press conferences that receive special attention from the public, he gradually withdraws, always in a state of readiness to face debates with the media.
Then the statement saying, "80% of Vietnamese fans do not support me" further widens that gap, like adding fuel to the fire once again.
Late-night press conferences
For sports reporters, few press conferences end as late as after the matches of the Vietnamese national team at major home tournaments. Working hours are often even longer if the main characters are controversial names. Coach Philippe Troussier is one of them.
In fact, the debates surrounding the French strategist have appeared before the 0-3 defeat to Indonesia in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. His hot temper, straightforwardness and willingness to defend his views have long become part of his image.
However, at the press conference after that defeat, Mr. Troussier appeared with a completely different attitude. He was calm, gentle and refused to answer any questions related to his future. The French coach left the press conference quite quickly after a few short speeches.
Few people expected that just nearly two hours later, he officially parted ways with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), closing his journey with the national team. Reporters understood that another long night would begin.
After completing the work at the stadium, verifying the necessary information and handling the content related to the press conference, I and a few colleagues continued to move to the hotel where the Vietnamese team stayed. At that time, the clock was already 0 o'clock.
Mr. Troussier stepped out of the car with a calm look. The French coach smiled slightly, as if he had accepted the harshness that is an inseparable part of football. He did not answer interviews. Nor did he see the usual hot temper anymore. Only silence remained.
A press conference took place late at night but opened up a long-term topic to analyze the failure of the Vietnamese national team as well as the term of coach Troussier. That was not an easy time for me. Because more than just a figure in the newspapers, Mr. Troussier is also someone I once had the opportunity to talk to and contact in work.
In fact, press conferences in the V.League are not always as "faint" as many people think. When coach Popov, assistant coach Nguyen Van Bien, coach Mai Xuan Hop, Van Sy Son or a few other figures are ready to speak up, the league reappears with very unique colors.
Press conferences, tears, loneliness and even the noise behind the pitch have brought journalists special experiences. It is not simply a place to record post-match speeches but also a place where the true emotions of football are sometimes expressed more clearly than anything that happens on the field.
