Is coach Yutaka Ikeuchi facing pressure with the Vietnam U19 team?

Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi admitted that the recent success of the Vietnamese national teams at all levels has put additional pressure on the Vietnam U19 team.

Before departing for Indonesia to participate in the 2026 Southeast Asian U19 Championship, coach Yutaka Ikeuchi affirmed that the successes of Vietnam's youth and national teams in recent times serve as both motivation and added responsibility for the Vietnam U19 team in their journey to conquer the regional arena and aim for the 2027 Asian U20 Qualifiers.

According to coach Yutaka Ikeuchi, the Vietnam U19 team began its training camp about a month ago at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center with the aim of preparing for the 2026 Southeast Asian U19 Championship and, further ahead, the 2027 Asian U20 Qualifiers. Although they cannot yet field their strongest squad due to the absence of some players for unforeseen circumstances, the Japanese coach still highly values ​​the quality of the current team.

The Vietnam U19 team diligently trained under the scorching sun in Hanoi . Photo: Minh Quan.

"It's true that some players I wanted to see couldn't be included due to objective reasons. However, the Vietnam U19 team still has many other quality players," coach Yutaka Ikeuchi shared.

Over the past period, the coaching staff has focused on improving professional skills, perfecting tactical execution, and helping players adapt to the team's football philosophy. According to Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi, the U19 Vietnam players have made significant progress in understanding the playing style and tactical requirements set by the coaching staff.

The entire team is working hard to finalize their preparations for the competition in Southeast Asia. Photo: Minh Quan.

Evaluating the recent 10-day training camp in Japan, Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi stated that it was a crucial period for the team's preparation. With the support of their Japanese counterparts, the Vietnam U19 team was arranged to play against many high-quality opponents. In particular, the match against the B team of Shimizu S-Pulse – a club that uses many first-team players – provided valuable experience for the young Vietnamese players. Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi also highly valued the professional significance of these training matches, as the Vietnam U19 team gained experience against strong opponents in both physical fitness and skill, thereby helping the players accumulate more experience and improve their competitive spirit.

When asked about the pressure to achieve results in the context of the recent positive performances of Vietnam's youth and national teams, Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi acknowledged that it adds pressure to the U19 Vietnam team. However, he considers this a responsibility and a motivation for the entire team to strive harder. "For me, coaching comes with pressure. In the context of the strong development of Vietnamese football, I always hope to contribute to the training and success of this U19 Vietnam team," Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi stated.

The recent achievements of the national teams create pressure but also serve as a great motivation for the Vietnam U19 team to strive for success. Photo: Minh Quan.

Assessing the opponents in this tournament, coach Yutaka Ikeuchi believes that host nation Indonesia will be the biggest challenge for the Vietnam U19 team in the group stage. According to him, Indonesia possesses many players who have participated in the U17 World Cup and have a very high level of skill. “Indonesia is certainly a very strong opponent. But our goal is still to try to go as far as possible and achieve the highest possible ranking in the tournament,” coach Yutaka Ikeuchi affirmed.

Sharing his football philosophy for the Vietnam U19 team, coach Yutaka Ikeuchi said he aims for a comprehensive attacking and defensive style of play, where the entire team participates in both offense and defense in a synchronized manner. "I want the whole team to participate in both attack and defense in a harmonious way," the Japanese coach added.

Vietnam U19's schedule in the group stage of the 2026 Southeast Asian U19 Championship.

Schedule of matches for Vietnam U19 in the group stage of the 2026 Southeast Asian U19 Championship.

Regarding the hot weather conditions in Hanoi over the past few days, Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi believes that the climate in Indonesia is similar to that of Vietnam, so the players will adapt quickly. The coaching staff has also proactively adjusted the training volume to ensure the best physical condition for the entire team.

According to the plan, the Vietnam U19 team will depart for Indonesia on May 28th to participate in the 2026 Southeast Asian U19 Championship. Based on the draw results, Vietnam U19 is in Group A along with host nation Indonesia U19, Myanmar U19, and Timor Leste U19. The tournament will take place from June 1st to June 14th, 2026, and is considered an important preparation step towards the 2027 AFC U20 Championship Qualifiers.

Source: https://danviet.vn/hlv-yutaka-ikeuchi-co-gap-ap-luc-cung-u19-viet-nam-d1430242.html