The last 6 rounds of V.League 2024-2025 (The Cong is ranked 3rd, 6 points behind the top team) and the National Cup semi-finals are waiting for Popov. Pressure is inevitable, but this time, he has conditions that Thanh Hoa does not have. A larger, better quality squad, national players in all 3 lines. A strong financial foundation, so that he no longer has to worry about "taking the bear to patch the shoulders" in each contract or each training session.
But above all, Popov will have one important thing in hand: The Cong's tradition and spirit. The army team not only plays football, they fight. Not only to win, but also to protect honor and pride have been built over the past half century.
That spirit does not allow the public to surrender, even in the most difficult circumstances. That spirit requires each player to fight with all the pride of a soldier. And Popov, with discipline and science training, it seems that it is the ideal piece to awaken the identity. A combination can be associated with the image "blowing fire into the spirit of steel".
Of course, football is not a story of miracles. The rest of V.League 2024-2025, each match is like a final, will require Popov to quickly breathe a strong spirit into the Reds. A solid playing style, rich in discipline and knowing how to take advantage of opportunities.
Popov once took Thanh Hoa from a mid-level team to a force that challenged the big guys. For The Cong, he will have a more solid launching pad but at the same time, the expectation is also much greater. That is a challenge and also an opportunity for Popov to leave his name in the history of the most traditional team in Vietnam.
