Portuguese Coach Reveals the Latest Condition of Xuân Son

On the afternoon of January 28, Coach Mauro Jeronimo held a press conference ahead of the match between Nam Định Club and Lion City Sailors Club (Singapore) as part of the Asean Club Championship 2025/26 group stage.

Speaking to the media, the Portuguese coach praised the opponent from Singapore. Coach Mauro Jeronimo shared: “Lion City Sailors is a high-quality team. They are performing strongly this season with talented players and a coach who has many years of experience. However, the goal of Thép Xanh Nam Định remains unchanged; we want to win.”

Nonetheless, the head coach of Nam Định Club affirmed that the home team’s objective at Thiên Trường Stadium remains the same. Mr. Mauro Jeronimo emphasized: “I understand that Lion City Sailors have been continuously competing, while this is our first match after a long break. Of course, the break is good for the team to have extra time to refine tactics, but training for too long without official matches is not truly effective. Still, this isn’t a major issue. I trust my team.”

Notably, Coach Mauro Jeronimo also openly addressed the defensive issues. He stated: “At the start of the season, the team conceded quite a few goals. We have learned from that to improve our defense. Additionally, the offense is currently in good form with several players capable of breakthroughs.”

Regarding the condition of Xuân Son, Nam Định’s head coach revealed: “As for Xuân Son, although he has not yet reached his best physical condition, his return is extremely important. In the match against Bangkok United, in the final minutes, Xuân Son tirelessly dribbled, accelerated, and scored another goal. I really appreciate and always encourage players to fight like that.”

Sitting next to the head coach at the press conference, defender Lucas also expressed strong determination: “Being at the top of the group right now is proof of the entire team’s effort. We always maintain high concentration in every match. I also agree with the head coach’s opinion; our immediate goal is to secure a spot in the semifinals, and to achieve that, we must perform well in tomorrow’s game.”

Currently, Nam Định Club leads Group B with a perfect 9 points from 3 matches, giving them a significant advantage in the race to advance. The match between Thép Xanh Nam Định and Lion City Sailors will take place at 19:30 on January 29 at Thiên Trường Stadium.