HAGL has yet to elevate its level

A comeback 3-1 victory over Hanoi FC helped HAGL officially secure top-flight survival and brought great hope for the future of the Mountain City team. Once again, HAGL overcame adversity with youthful energy and pragmatism, bearing the strong imprint of Technical Director Vu Tien Thanh.

Looking at how HAGL finished the season, fans have reason to be optimistic. But if they want to return to the status of a club capable of competing for titles instead of just fighting relegation,HAGLstill has a lot of work to do.

The return of Mr. Vu Tien Thanh clearly brings a positive atmosphere to the Mountain City team.

From Saigon FC, Ho Chi Minh City FC toHAGLcurrently, this strategist always knows how to help his team navigate the most dangerous moments.

Under Mr. Thanh's guidance, HAGL no longer plays the romantic style of football from the era of Cong Phuong, Tuan Anh, and Xuan Truong. Instead, it has become a rough-edged collective waiting for counter-attacking opportunities. Some like it, some don't, and there have even been opinions that this style erases the identity ofHAGL.

With current resources, HAGL can hardly play open football against clubs invested with hundreds of billions of dong each season, such as Hanoi FC, Hanoi Police FC, or The Cong Viettel. Mr. Vu Tien Thanh understands this very well and therefore chooses a more practical approach—survive first before thinking about bigger things.

What's more encouraging is that within this pragmatic squad, promising bright spots have emerged. Gia Bao is rising as one of the most watchable young talents in Vietnamese football. His explosive sprint that troubled Xuan Manh and his goal against Hanoi FC show that this striker possesses great development potential.

Besides Gia Bao, there is Minh Tam with his bold maneuvers on the flank, Quang Kiet showing maturity, and goalkeeper Trung Kien, who has already proven his ability in national youth teams.

Looking at the current squad, HAGL possesses a generation of young players who can bring much hope for Vietnamese football in the future. They have not yet reached the stature of Cong Phuong, Tuan Anh, or Xuan Truong from years past, but their potential is clearly visible.

That is also HAGL's greatest success over many years. When they cannot compete with money, the Mountain City team still maintains its youth academy system and continuously produces quality players.

However, this is also HAGL's limitation. Having a good youth academy does not mean being able to compete for championships. HAGL has often had to fight for survival due to a thin squad and lack of depth over many seasons.

The victory over Hanoi FC shows HAGL's potential. But to turn those explosive moments into a familiar sight, the club needs stronger investment.

If the goal is only to train and sell players, staying up each season might already count as success. But if they want to return to the image of a true powerhouse in V-League, the Mountain City team must dare to set bigger ambitions.

Mr. Vu Tien Thanh has completed his mission of rescuing HAGL this season. But he himself also understands that survival cannot forever be the ultimate goal for a traditionally rich club like HAGL.

The victory over Hanoi FC serves as a reminder that HAGL still has a lot of untapped potential. With Gia Bao, Minh Tam, Quang Kiet, Trung Kien, and many other talents, the future of the Mountain City team remains very promising.