Without Xuan Son, Nam Dinh is still too strong

Nam Dinh won the championship without Xuan Son. Photo: Nam Dinh Green Steel .

"There were times when Nam Dinh only had one team capable of competing, but the players tried their best. The solidarity and determination of all members were the factors that helped us overcome difficulties. Winning the championship was difficult, retaining the championship was even more difficult. But we were not afraid of challenges. When the whole team is working towards the same goal, all limits can be overcome," coach Vu Hong Viet shared after the victory over Quang Nam on June 15.

It was not only an emotional statement, but also the culmination of a journey full of courage - when Nam Dinh had to face countless difficulties in terms of personnel. V.League had only gone 1/3 of the way, Xuan Son, an important link in Nam Dinh's attack line, suffered a serious injury and was forced to take a long-term break. He could not return for the rest of the season.

Then, Nam Dinh continued to say goodbye to Hendrio right at the acceleration stage. Nguyen Van Toan, an experienced and fast player, also fell into an injured state.

However, coach Vu Hong Viet once again demonstrated his excellent talent in management and team building. Without Xuan Son, Hendrio, or Van Toan, Mr. Viet chose to rebuild the attack with "second options".

Brenner, Lam Ti Phong and Ly Cong Hoang Anh became a new attacking trio, supported by a dynamic and mobile midfield. Many of the players possessed abundant physical strength, the ability to continuously press and quickly change state, creating conditions for the attacking trio above to operate more effectively.

Ly Cong Hoang Anh played impressively when given the opportunity. Photo: Nam Dinh Green Steel.

The full-backs also regularly move up to support the attack, creating a connection between the three lines in each phase of the ball. Smart movement, tactical discipline and the ability to flexibly switch positions help Nam Dinh maintain an overwhelming position despite the absence of stars in the squad. It is this connection that creates a Nam Dinh team that is rich in organization and has enough depth to overcome any fluctuations in force during the season.

The 2-0 victory over Quang Nam to win the championship was the 14th unbeaten match for coach Vu Hong Viet and his team. 10 wins, 4 draws, including important victories over CAHN, Hanoi and The Cong Viettel are the clearest proof of coach Vu Hong Viet's talent in using people. He helped the team from Thanh Nam maintain stability even without Xuan Son and without the best quality names.

Coach Vu Hong Viet's mark on Nam Dinh. Photo: Nam Dinh Green Steel .

The victory in round 25 also marked Coach Vu Hong Viet's 100th match as Nam Dinh's head coach. This milestone was perfectly concluded with the second consecutive V.League championship.

After 100 official matches, coach Vu Hong Viet helped Nam Dinh win 52 matches, draw 22 matches, and score 182 goals. This is clearly an impressive statistic, especially when placed in the context of him taking over a team that once struggled to stay in the league.

Nam Dinh has become one of the clubs with the most effective attack in V.League in the last two seasons. Not only that, they have also maintained stability, something that opponents such as Hanoi, CAHN, Ha Tinh could not do at the end of the season.

Two consecutive V.League championships, a National Super Cup, and individual titles such as the best coach of the season and the best coach of the month four times are proof of the 1979-born coach's journey to elevate Nam Dinh. From a team with great potential but lacking a clear direction, Nam Dinh has now become a new symbol of stability, cohesion and sharpness.

At the center of that journey, no one deserves to be mentioned first other than Vu Hong Viet, a strategist who is quietly rewriting the concept of "hero" in the hearts of Thanh Nam fans.

Source: https://znews.vn/khong-xuan-son-nam-dinh-van-qua-manh-post1561206.html