HAGL sounds the red alert; boss Duc recalls the "lifesaver" Vu Tien Thanh.

Facing a difficult fight to stay up, HAGL sees the comeback of technical chief Vu Tien Thanh as a "spiritual doping" for the club ahead of two survival clashes.

HAGL is truly entering the "death door" in the 2025/26 V-League. With only two rounds left to end the season, the "Mountain City team" still cannot feel secure about staying up. Amidst increasingly suffocating pressure, boss Duc had to deploy the "lifesaver" named Vu Tien Thanh, hoping to save the club from a disastrous scenario.

The return of Technical Director Vu Tien Thanh comes at the most sensitive moment of the season. Previously, this "strategist" had just left Ninh Binh after a period in which he helped the team win 5 matches, draw 3, and lose only 2. Although not directly sitting in the head coach seat at HAGL, he will still be the most influential voice in professional matters behind the scenes.

Currently, the Pleiku Arena side sits 11th on the table with a very fragile gap from the danger zone. More worryingly, SHB Da Nang is experiencing a strong revival in the sprint phase, making the relegation race hotter than ever.

The difficulty also lies in the "nightmare" schedule that awaits the "Mountain City team" ahead. In round 25, HAGL will have to face Hanoi, who still have the top-3 target and compete for the runner-up position. With a superior squad and a thirst for victory, Harry Kewell's team will surely put tremendous pressure on the home side at Pleiku Arena.

If they cannot earn points against the "Capital team", HAGL will likely have to enter a "reverse final" against Becamex Ho Chi Minh City in the final round. What's more, it will be a risky away trip as the opponent is also fighting for survival.

In that context, fans of the "Mountain City team" can only place their faith in the "miracle" that appeared in the 2023/24 season. Back then, the club was deep at the bottom of the table with a seven-match winless streak before the duo Kiatisuk Senamuang and Vu Tien Thanh created a huge mental lift with a 2-0 victory over Hanoi.

Now, history is repeating itself in a haunting way. Hoang Anh Gia Lai meets Hanoi again in a life-or-death moment, and Technical Director Vu Tien Thanh is once again expected to become the "savior." Boss Duc has played his final card. The biggest question now is whether the "Mountain City team" can create a miracle once more, or will this club sink into its worst nightmare in many years?