Three consecutive defeats in the V-League clearly expose Nam Định's weaknesses.

The lack of good coordination between local and foreign players is seen as the key factor causing difficulties for the Nam Định club currently.

After an exciting start to the 2025-2026 season, the reigning champions Thép Xanh Nam Định are now facing a tough period. The 1-2 loss to Becamex TP.HCM on the evening of October 18 in round 7 of the V-League extended the team’s losing streak to three matches this season, following two consecutive 0-2 defeats against Ninh Bình and Công an Hà Nội.

What is concerning is the strange inefficiency of Nam Định’s attack. Despite creating many clear chances in recent matches, their finishing has been very poor. Strikers who were once hopefuls, like Percy Tau and Brenner, have yet to show their best form. The lack of harmony between foreign players and the domestic squad has made Nam Định’s play disjointed and lacking in breakthroughs..

Unlike international tournaments where Nam Định can field up to 10 foreign players simultaneously, the V-League restricts the number of foreign players allowed, making it difficult for coach Vũ Hồng Việt to find the right balance between the quality of foreign players and the stability of local players.

When rotating the squad, Nam Định clearly shows a “patchwork” problem in their tactical segments. Foreign players used to playing together internationally lack smooth coordination when playing alongside domestic players, leading to misunderstandings on the field.

Additionally, many Vietnamese players in the squad have not adapted well to the physically intense and fast-paced style that the foreign players implement, causing a “mismatch” in the team’s playing rhythm.

Besides professional issues, Nam Định is also suffering significant setbacks as some key players are underperforming, and many new faces have not yet integrated well. The dense schedule across multiple competitions has caused the Nam Định team to decline somewhat in the V-League this season.

From the position of champions in the last two seasons, Nam Định has unexpectedly declined and dropped to 9th place on the standings with 7 points. This disappointing run forces coach Vũ Hồng Việt and his team to face great pressure from Nam Định fans, who always demand the fighting spirit and resilience of champions.

Three consecutive losses have not only caused Nam Định to lose form but also sounded a warning bell for the V-League "king." If the lack of connection between domestic and foreign players is not quickly resolved, the Nam Định team could continue to sink deeper into this performance crisis.