Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem sharply rebuts Australian coach

Chu Dinh Nghiem directly responded to Harry Kewell's statement after the victory over Hanoi, affirming that Hai Phong deserved to earn all 3 points due to their superior performance.

Following the narrow victory of Hai Phong over Hanoi FC at Lach Tray Stadium, Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem shared candid remarks regarding the notable statement from his colleague Harry Kewell.

Regarding the head coach of Hanoi FC's claim that his team "lost by themselves," Mr. Nghiem did not avoid the issue but responded directly: “In football, it is the coach's right to say Hanoi lost by themselves. But you know that in today's match, our team played very well. In the first half, we created many opportunities but failed to capitalize. Hanoi today might not have played to their full potential, but my team played better, so today's victory is deserved.”

The strategist of the Port city team asserted that, even though the opponent played below their level at times, Hai Phong was the team that better controlled the match and created more dangerous opportunities. Therefore, the final result accurately reflected the on-field situation.

Notably, when asked about Kewell's statement that “he didn't know who Chu Dinh Nghiem was,” this coach remained quite calm and not overly concerned: “This matter is very normal to me. I only knew Kewell from his time as a player, and I'm not clear about his coaching before coming to Vietnam. Kewell came to Hanoi must contribute to Hanoi, I came to Hai Phong must contribute to Hai Phong. The important thing is to deliver good results and emotions for the fans.”

The message Mr. Nghiem emphasized was focusing on professionalism rather than peripheral statements. According to him, the most important thing for a coach is to help the team perform effectively and bring joy to the supporters.

Additionally, Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem also praised Huu Nam, the player who overcame injury to return and effectively seized the opportunity given. However, when discussing the championship race, he remained cautious: “I don't think that far ahead. Hai Phong's squad depth is not thick; if we encounter injuries or suspensions, it will be very difficult. We will try to handle each match one at a time.”

The victory over Hanoi FC not only helped Hai Phong end their unlucky streak but also provided a crucial morale boost. Mr. Nghiem revealed that before the match, his biggest goal was to relieve pressure for the players: “Before this match, I just wanted to relieve the players' psychological burden, go out and give your best, play wholeheartedly, accept whatever result and not blame afterwards.”