Coach Vu Tien Thanh directly states the reasons for Ninh Binh's decline.

Coach Vu Tien Thanh believes that Ninh Binh Club's five-week break during the V-League suspension caused the team to lose rhythm and decline in form.

Ninh Binh Club continues to face a disappointing streak of form as they lost 1-2 to Hanoi Police Club in round 16 of the V-League 2025/26 on March 14th at home. This defeat extends the team's unbeaten streak to 5 matches, significantly diminishing their advantage in the top group race.

After the match, Acting Coach Vu Tien Thanh shared candid insights on the reasons for the team's recent decline. According to him, the players' excessively long break during the league suspension caused Ninh Binh to lose their competitive rhythm and necessary physical foundation.

The coach stated: “When the V-League paused for the Asian U23 tournament, the previous coaching staff of Ninh Binh Club gave the players a break of up to 5 weeks. They only resumed training briefly after Tet (Lunar New Year). This caused the players to lose momentum. The extended break greatly impacted their fitness and form. I believe this was inappropriate. Hoang Anh Gia Lai only rested for 2 weeks. The V-League remains a physically demanding and rigorous competition. For a team that was unbeaten in 11 matches, losing just one match significantly affects the players' morale and confidence.”

Coach Vu Tien Thanh also acknowledged that he has only recently taken over the team and is striving to help Ninh Binh Club quickly stabilize again. “I am also just a replacement, and I will try to use my experience to help Ninh Binh regain their form. Ninh Binh's goal is not to give up in the race for Asian Cup and Southeast Asian Cup qualification next season if they reach the National Cup final. There are 10 rounds left in the V-League, anything can happen. This is not an unrealistic story.”

Besides fitness issues, the coach also pointed out personnel difficulties in the match against CAHN. “We knew this was a very difficult match because CAHN Club is in good form. However, today's match presented too many risks for Ninh Binh Club. We only had three foreign players, and Geovane was suspended, leaving us with almost no substitution options. In matches against SHB Da Nang or this one against CAHN Club, it's clear that in terms of physical foundation, Ninh Binh Club couldn't keep up. In the second conceded goal, when we attacked and they switched tactics, no one managed to retreat quickly enough.”

Nevertheless, Coach Vu Tien Thanh noted positive signs from the team's young players. “I sensed from the first training session that the players' mentality was not good. After the long break of about 5 weeks due to the Asian U23 tournament, the team lost their competitive rhythm, and that greatly affected their form. The bright spot today was the young players. When they entered the field, the team played more explosively. In football, if foreign players or star players perform poorly, one must accept substitutions.”