Thua CAHN, cầu thủ Thanh Hóa kêu cứu giữa khủng hoảng chồng chất

Following the 1-3 defeat against CAHN, midfielder Lê Quốc Phương voiced a desperate call for help amid Thanh Hóa’s ongoing personnel and financial turmoil.

Thất bại 1-3 trước CLB Công An Hà Nội in the rescheduled round 10 match of the 2025/2026 V-League not only left Thanh Hóa empty-handed but also exposed the full extent of the challenges the team from Thanh Hóa is enduring. Immediately after the match on the evening of February 24, midfielder Lê Quốc Phương posted a haunting message: “Exhausted and powerless… please someone save us.”

The home defeat left Thanh Hóa stuck in 12th place with 12 points, five points ahead of last-place Đà Nẵng. However, the issue is not their ranking but the struggle the team faces just to survive each round. A thin squad with no depth makes every match feel like a draining battle.

In the game against CAHN, coach Mai Xuân Hợp even had to put goalkeeper Y Êli Niê up front as a striker in the final minutes to seek an equalizer. This image somewhat reveals that Thanh Hóa is running out of player options. The bench had only five substitutes, including two goalkeepers.

After the match, coach Mai Xuân Hợp frankly admitted that the team is facing a severe shortage of players and lacks rotation options. Some players had to sit out due to fever, while others with knee injuries still tried to play. He mentioned the club is working with the leadership to find a way to lift the FIFA ban so new players can be registered soon.

The root of the crisis stems from prolonged financial difficulties. Thanh Hóa is currently banned by FIFA from transfers due to disputes over salaries and financial obligations with players and foreign coaches. Until these issues are resolved, the club cannot add new players, while many key members have already left.

In this context, Lê Quốc Phương’s plea is more than just an emotional reaction to a loss. It represents the voice of a team exhausted both physically and mentally. Unless the financial problems and transfer ban are quickly resolved, Thanh Hóa’s journey in the V-League ahead will be extremely challenging.