Johor Darul Ta’zim FC head coach Xisco Muñoz will send his players into their ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ clash with Group B leaders Nam Định FC in Ninh Binh on Thursday wary of the home side’s pace on the counterattack.
The Malaysia Super League side are in second place in the standings and need only a point from the meeting with the V.League 1 outfit to qualify for the semi-finals but the Spaniard sounded a note of caution ahead of the top of the table clash.
“They are a team with very good tactical organisation,” said Muñoz. “They are quick in transition, with fast players who create danger when they move forward. They also apply pressure well and have strong individual quality, especially in set-piece situations.
“It is no coincidence that they have taken maximum points so far. They are strong as a team and as individuals, and tomorrow we expect a very difficult match. It is important that we match their level.”
Nam Định are the only team left in the competition with a perfect record having won all four of their matches in the 2025/26 Shopee Cup™ so far, with Mauro Jerónimo’s side scoring 12 times.
That tally is the joint-highest in the competition alongside those achieved by JDT, with Nam Định’s Vietnam international Nguyễn Xuân Son the tournament’s leading scorer with seven goals.
“Their striker is very dangerous, especially with crosses into the box, so we need to be fully focused on defending those situations,” Muñoz said of the Brazil-born forward.
“In general, they have good attacking players, so our defensive organisation, especially in transition and rest defence, needs to be very clear and intelligent to stop their speed and strength.”
Nam Định’s perfect start means they are the only team to go into Matchday 5 having secured their place in the semi-finals, but head coach Jerónimo is refusing to relax ahead of the meeting with tournament debutants.
“Johor Darul Ta’zim FC are a club with a big name, significant investment, and a strong history — multiple league titles in Malaysia and success in AFC competitions,” he said. “They have quality, especially in attack, and a very strong structure.
“We respect them, but we must also believe in ourselves. We cannot have any inferiority complex. We need to be humble, but confident in what we have been doing, which has been very good so far.”
After being held to a 2-2 draw by Thanh Hóa on Sunday in the domestic league, Jerónimo intends to field his best 11 to start against JDT, even if his side are already through to the semi-finals.
“We rotate when possible, but considering the level of our opponent, we need to field the strongest team available, players who are most prepared tactically, physically and mentally,” he said.
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