Why should we be happy when Đình Bắc is continuously on the bench?

The achievements with Vietnam U23 haven’t helped Đình Bắc alter his role at Công An Hà Nội, yet occasionally this turns out to be a good thing for the player from Nghệ An.

Đình Bắc has been the most talked-about name recently. However, a paradox emerged as soon as he returned to the club. Đình Bắc was on the bench in the crucial V-League round 12 match and continued to miss out in the farewell match of the ASEAN Club Championship.

The fact that Đình Bắc was not in the starting lineup against Ninh Bình, a match dubbed the "first leg final" of the season, surprised many fans. Just days earlier, the 2004-born striker had received the top scorer award of the 2026 U23 Asian Championship at Hàng Đẫy amidst applause from thousands of spectators. Form, enthusiasm, media buzz... all pointed to a starting spot. But Polking thought otherwise.

And the reality on the pitch confirmed that decision was correct. CAHN still played dominantly, came from behind to win 3-2, ending Ninh Bình’s 36-match unbeaten streak and reclaiming the top spot. Without Đình Bắc, CAHN still had reliable scorers like Alan and Artur.

Alan scored a hat-trick, reminding everyone that at CAHN right now, Đình Bắc is not yet the central figure in the attacking setup. Alan is the current top scorer of the V-Leaguewith 11 goals this season; Artur contributed 6 goals. Together they have 17 goals, making them one of the most effective duos in the league, with a well-developed understanding built over time. When the system is running smoothly, Polking has no reason to disrupt the structure just because of the temporary spotlight on a young talent.

The same scenario repeated in the 6-1 win over Tampines Rovers, where Đình Bắc again did not enter the field. Nonetheless, CAHN still recorded their biggest win of the season to close their ASEAN Club Championship campaign.

At CAHN, competition has never been easy. Even without using Đình Bắc, Polking has ready attacking options like Văn Đô, Văn Đức, Quang Hải, and China. This is a big difference between club and youth national team environments. At Vietnam U23, Đình Bắc is seen as the number one star; but in a squad full of quality players and V-League champions, he is just one piece in a larger puzzle.

Beyond tactical choices, there is a long-term strategy. Polking understands the cost of “forcing maturity.” Đình Bắc just came through a high-intensity tournament, with heavy travel, psychological pressure, and even playing through pain. Serious injuries to players of the same age like Hiểu Minh and Thái Sơn are a clear warning. Ironically, in the match between CAHN and Ninh Bình, Thái Sơn got injured in the second half on his debut, a vivid example.

For CAHN, this season’s goal is not only the V-League. The team also targets the National Cup and especially the AFC Champions League Two – a competition demanding depth, stamina, and rotation. Therefore, Đình Bắc does not need to play every match, especially since he has a long future ahead.

Two consecutive matches on the bench, yet the team still wins. That is the message Polking sends to his praised student: to become an indispensable choice, Đình Bắc must keep proving himself through persistent effort rather than living off the spotlight of a recent tournament.