Head coach Flavio Cruz expressed his admiration for Quang Hai's performance in the match against Nam Dinh, despite CAHN's loss in the round of 16 of the 2023 National Cup on the evening of July 7.
Cruz commended Quang Hai's progress and stated, "Quang Hai is improving with each game. In the last match, he played in a deeper position than today. Quang Hai's natural position is not as a central midfielder. Today, he played closer to the attacking midfield positions. Hai often dropped back to support the team and did a good job in linking play. Overall, Hai played better today than in the previous game."
Following his debut with CAHN in the 13th round of the V.League against Da Nang, where he played for more than 60 minutes, Quang Hai played the full 90 minutes against Nam Dinh in the National Cup. Despite his efforts, he was unable to score or provide an assist. He also missed a penalty in the shootout, resulting in Nam Dinh's 2-3 victory after a 1-1 draw.
"Penalty shootouts are unpredictable, and many players have missed penalties before. Even great players like Roberto Baggio have missed in the World Cup. CAHN was well-prepared, but luck was not on our side," the CAHN captain commented.
With Quang Hai on the team, CAHN has suffered two consecutive losses in all competitions. When asked about Quang Hai's chances of playing in the near future, the Brazilian coach did not provide a clear answer. He simply indicated that the squad selection for CAHN is not fixed, and players will need to work hard to earn their place.
On the Nam Dinh side, head coach Vu Hong Viet stated, "CAHN has many talented individuals but lacks cohesion as a team. Quang Hai has been playing in a deeper midfield position, which is not his natural role, and he hasn't fully regained his best form since returning from France. I instructed my players to close down spaces quickly and limit Hai's influence on the ball."
