U20 Vietnam faces relegation risk: Coach Ikeuchi Yutaka heavily criticized, where is the problem?

On September 6, U20 Vietnam will face a decisive moment in the 2027 AFC U20 Asian Cup qualifiers. After two consecutive defeats - 0-3 against North Korea and 1-2 against Palestine - coach Ikeuchi Yutaka's team faces relegation if they fail to beat Iran. A former VFF official has strongly criticized the Japanese coach's tactical abilities and coaching experience. The 0-3 loss to North Korea was somewhat acceptable given their status as one of Northeast Asia's strongest teams. However, the 1-2 defeat to Palestine is concerning. Despite being considered the weaker opponent, U20 Vietnam failed to display the cohesive play needed for victory. The inconsistency in player coordination was evident in both matches. Former VFF Vice President Duong Vu Lam made sharp remarks about the current situation. He pointed out that coach Ikeuchi Yutaka lacks practical experience in handling difficult situations at the U20 level and appears to not fully understand his players. This is not the opinion of an outsider, but of someone who has long been associated with Vietnamese football and understands the characteristics of young players. One of the most prominent issues raised is the underutilization of experienced V-League players. Đinh Quang Kiệt, a 1m95 center-back from the V-League, is a typical example. He is assessed as capable of marking top strikers but has not been given significant playing time in recent matches. Trần Gia Bảo and Nguyễn Lê Phát are also experienced V-League players, but coach Ikeuchi seems unable to find the right way to integrate them into the team's overall play. The tactical approach of coach Ikeuchi Yutaka has been questioned for its inflexibility. V-League players typically have strong personalities and are accustomed to making independent decisions on the pitch, while the U20 squad leans more toward tactical discipline. This philosophical conflict may have created a gap between the coaching staff's intentions and the players' execution capabilities. Compared to the success of U23 Vietnam finishing third at the Asian Cup and U17 Vietnam winning SEA Games, the current U20 team seems unable to demonstrate comparable quality. Notably, both successful youth teams previously did not use naturalized players, contradicting claims that the issue lies in personnel quality. This reality shows that the problem lies in tactics and team operation, not in the squad selection. Coach Ikeuchi Yutaka's coaching style has been questioned regarding his ability to solve problems skillfully. In youth football, psychological factors play an important role alongside tactical skills. A coach needs to understand each player's psychology and know how to communicate ideas appropriately for their age and experience. What U20 Vietnam displayed on the pitch reveals a lack of connection between the coaching staff and players. If U20 Vietnam loses to Iran on September 6, the consequences will be very serious. Not only affecting chances to compete in the U20 Asian Cup, relegation will impact the entire youth player development chain of Vietnam. From the youth academy system, through U20, U23, to the senior national team, each level is tightly connected. A disruption at the U20 level could affect the quality of players for higher national teams in the future. Public reaction to the Japanese coach is becoming increasingly negative. However, former VFF Vice President Duong Vu Lam believes it is still too early to conclude that Japanese coaches are unsuitable for Vietnamese football. Vietnam's U23 under coach Kim Sang Sik and U17 under coach Cristiano Roland have proven that foreign coaches can completely succeed in Vietnam if they understand and adapt to the local football culture. Youth football reflects the training quality of each nation. Vietnam has made significant progress at the U23 and U17 levels, but the current U20 team shows a disruption in the development process. This raises questions about continuity in the coaching and tactical system from one level to another. Ahead of the crucial match against Iran, coach Ikeuchi Yutaka needs to make necessary adjustments. Maximizing the abilities of Đinh Quang Kiệt and V-League players could be the key to improving play. Simultaneously, the team needs to demonstrate more cohesion and coordination than in previous two matches. Otherwise, the relegation risk will become reality and this will be a regrettable step backward for Vietnamese youth football. U20 Vietnam's failure should not be entirely attributed to the lack of naturalized players. U23 and U17 have proven that with correct training methods and adaptation to Vietnamese player characteristics, success at the continental level is entirely achievable. The core issue lies in tactics, team operation, and the ability to connect between coaches and players. September 6 will be the real test of what U20 Vietnam can achieve.