Xuân Son got angry after the match, raising concerns for the Vietnam national team?

Xuân Son threw a water bottle angrily following the match with Thể Công Viettel, causing concern over his performance before the Vietnam squad gathers.

The furious water bottle throw by Xuân Son after the V-League round 10 rescheduled match on the evening of February 24 revealed a lot. When leaving the field after the clash with Thể Công Viettel, the 1997-born striker couldn’t hide his frustration. This act was not just a momentary emotion but also reflected the heavy pressure weighing on one of Vietnam football’s most highly anticipated forwards.

This match witnessed a nearly “shut down” Xuân Son against Thể Công Viettel’s tight defensive system. He was marked closely throughout his time on the pitch, rarely getting a chance to shoot in a favorable position. This helplessness was a stark contrast to the explosive image he had shown before.

In fact, since being re-registered in the V-League, Xuân Son has yet to score in three matches against Thanh Hóa, Hà Tĩnh, and Thể Công Viettel. His goals this season have only come in the ASEAN Club Championship. The prolonged goal drought in the domestic league has made Nam Định club fans anxious.

Explaining his player’s form, coach Mauro Jeronimo shared: “The V-League is very different from the regional or continental competitions we have participated in. Matches in the ASEAN and Asian cups usually have a high pace with many attacking opportunities. In contrast, the actual ball-in-play time in the V-League is very low. For example, in the match against Thanh Hóa, the ball was actually in play for only 37 minutes. The game against Thể Công Viettel today was similar, with nearly 40 fouls. Additionally, Xuân Son has just returned after a long break, so it takes time to adapt to the physically demanding and tight space style of the V-League. I believe he will return to his best form.”

However, the issue goes beyond the club level. Xuân Son was once a major hope for the Vietnam national team after shining brightly at the AFF Cup 2024 with 7 goals and 2 assists, earning the top scorer title. He was seen as the solution to Vietnam’s scoring problems during this transitional period.

Before the rematch against Malaysia on March 31, Xuân Son affirmed his determination to help the team overturn the result. Yet, with his current form and signs of stress like after the Thể Công Viettel match, concerns about Vietnam’s attacking line are well-founded. Fans are eagerly waiting for the return of a true “killer” rather than the helpless and angry image recently displayed.