Thanh Hoa kicks off: New breath, survival journey and quiet moments

Late August afternoon, on Thanh Hoa's training ground, the sound of studs crunching on dry grass. Head coach Mai Xuan Hop stands silently on the touchline, watching his players pass the ball. No one talks about the past, but everyone understands this season begins from a crack. Last season, the Thanh Hoa side survived relegation with just 25 points after 26 rounds, finishing 11th out of 14 teams, amid prolonged unpaid wages and a squad missing nearly half its players. Now, under the leadership of businessman Le Xuan Tuong and Thanh Hoa Football Development Joint Stock Company, the team has a new look, but the goal remains the same: survival. The rhythm is not in the feet, but in where one stands before the ball arrives. The kick-off ceremony was brief, unpretentious. Thirty players were registered, including 26 domestic players, 4 foreign players, and 1 Vietnamese-origin Laotian player. Among the foreigners, there are two midfielders, Abdurakhmanov and Lovric, two strikers, Matheus Monteiro Martins and Guindo, and Vietnamese-origin midfielder Thongkhamsavath. This addition shows the team is focusing on midfield and attack, areas where they scored very few goals last season. However, the notable point is that coach Mai Xuan Hop is registered as Technical Director, not Head Coach. This raises questions about coaching qualifications, as the VFF requires V-League head coaches to hold an AFC Pro Diploma. This could be a way to legitimize his position, but it could also be a potential regulatory risk. The team has retained key players such as captain goalkeeper Nguyen Thanh Diep, striker Le Van Thang, and defender Luc Xuan Hung. These are the ones who fought hard in the difficult season just passed, creating a cohesive unit. However, coach Mai Xuan Hop admitted the team only had 3 weeks of preparation, instead of the usual 6-8 weeks. This delay stems from the ownership transfer and financial stabilization. The opening match against Da Nang at home on September 6 will be the first test. Looking deeper, the 3-week delay is a major tactical disadvantage. In a league where teams typically have at least 6 weeks to build fitness and tactics, Thanh Hoa starts later. This means they will have to race against time to reach peak condition. Coach Mai Xuan Hop, who kept the team up with just 18 players last season, understands the value of solidity. He is likely to employ a defensive, counter-attacking style, a system suited to limited resources. Registering two foreign strikers suggests the possibility of a two-striker formation, but regulations on the number of foreign players on the pitch may force rotation. Another key point is the coach's qualification issue. Registering him as Technical Director may be a temporary solution, but it creates ambiguity about authority and responsibility. If the VFF detects non-compliance, the team could be fined or forced to make changes. This could cause internal disruption. However, if everything is accepted, he remains the highest professional authority. Financially, the joint-stock company model with multiple sponsors is a positive signal, but it is unproven. Vietnamese football history shows many provincial clubs depend on a single businessman, and when he withdraws, the club falls into crisis. Thanh Hoa just experienced that with former sponsor Dong A. Diversifying financial sources is necessary, but it takes time to prove sustainability. Unpaid wages from last season are also a potential burden, requiring the new leadership to resolve them to maintain player trust. Last season, Thanh Hoa survived with 25 points, a rather low number. The gap to the relegation zone was not disclosed, but it could be very narrow. This shows the team's true strength lies on the edge of survival. The resilience of the players, who fought despite not being fully paid, is an invaluable asset. But that asset can be eroded if the financial situation does not improve. Sadness also has a pause, and that pause is not empty. Many believe retaining key players is good stability. But from another perspective, that stability could become stagnation. Players accustomed to a defensive, low-scoring style may struggle to adapt to a new philosophy if the leadership demands a more attacking approach. The 3-week delay could be a hidden opportunity: it forces the team to focus on basic principles rather than complex tactics. In football, sometimes simplicity is the key. And the coach being registered as Technical Director could be a way to protect him from media pressure, allowing him to work more quietly. This contradicts the common belief that the title of Head Coach is important. I was present at the kick-off ceremony, observing how the players stepped onto the field. They did not seem eager, but cautious. The eyes of goalkeeper Thanh Diep, the captain, looked distant. He knows this season will not be easy. But there is something steadfast in his stance, as if he is used to facing storms. I recall a young player's words: "We don't need glamour, just a roof." That is the spirit of this team. In the context of an increasingly competitive V-League, with strong investment from teams like Cong An Ha Noi, Ha Noi FC, or Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa clearly cannot compare in resources. But football is not just about money. The cohesion of the collective, the understanding between coach and players, and the faith of local fans are intangible assets. I saw Thanh Hoa fans filling the stands at the ceremony, singing traditional songs. They do not demand a championship, only that the team fights with all its heart. That creates a spiritual strength that not every team has. Unpaid wages are an unhealed wound. The players endured months without pay, yet they still took the field. That shows their love for the profession, for the team. But will that love be enough to continue when new difficulties arise? The new leadership must resolve these debts decisively to rebuild trust. I hear a match with my ears, but understand it with the soles of my feet. The match against Da Nang on September 6 will not just be a match, but a test for an entire new system. Will the patience of the new leadership be enough to overcome early difficulties? Will the players who experienced unpaid wages still keep the fire? The answer lies in the team's rhythm, not in the speed of the plays. Listen to their breathing on the field, where everything begins. It's not speed, it's the rhythm of the dance.