Why does coach Johnny Jansen want Doan Van Hau to play center back?

On February 18, Jong Heerenveen welcomed Jong Venlo at home in the tournament for reserve teams. Doan Van Hau continued to start at the center-back. Playing with the familiar number 4 shirt, the 21-year-old showed the silhouette of a leader in the defense of the Heerenveen youth team.

During the 90 minutes, Doan Van Hau maintained a high level of concentration and the ball handling was very reasonable. Van Hau's ability to play on the rhythm helps Heerenveen's range be maintained making every space to the net sealed.

However, it is worth mentioning that Doan Van Hau's excellent ball dispute ability. The physical advantage allowed the player to win most of the hand-to-hand combat situations, although his opponent was not a small man.

Van Hau's ability to launch attacks is also shown with a long pass that helped Smit seal the 2-0 victory in the final minutes.

However, Van Hau also reveals weaknesses in the physical foundation. In the final minutes of the match when Jong Venlo maintained pressure on the net, some situations Van Hau was out of breath when facing the opposing striker. Physical strength is the weakness of all Asian players in general when compared to European ones- what Van Hau needs to continue to strive to improve in the near future.

Compared to wingback position, center back position will require lower physical platform. Perhaps that is one of the reasons coach Johnny Jansen wants Doan Van Hau to test as a center-back. What he has shown will certainly be acknowledged.

Van Hau's chance to have the first title in the Netherlands with Jong Heerenveen is very hight. In the last 4 seasons, Jong Heerenveen has 3 times won the tournament for young players. In the 2017/2018 season, they ranked No. 1 when they won 33 points after 16 rounds. In the 2016/2017 season, Jong Heerenveen also took the lead with 31 points after 14 matches. In the 2015/16 season, Van Hau's team also won the championship with 14 points earned in the final round.

An achievement at the age of 21 for a team in Europe will be a great thing. Doan Van Hau will have more motivation as well as confidence to try harder on the challenging career path ahead.