ISKANDAR PUTERI: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) head coach Hector Bidoglio wants his team to maintain their winning momentum in the Malaysia Cup title defence.
He expressed satisfaction with his players’ performance in their 3-0 win over Kuala Lumpur Rovers (KL Rovers) in the round of 16 last night, describing it as a challenging game.
“It was a difficult match because when the opponents played very low and defended with nine players all the time, it’s hard to find space and connect with the forwards.
“But in my opinion, the players tried to give their 100 per cent, moving the ball side to side and trying to penetrate the defensive line,” he told a post-match press conference here last night.
He added that his players need to avoid making mistakes and give their full focus in every match.
“Right now, we need to focus on all competitions. We are playing in the AFC Champions League Elite (ACL Elite) and now in the Malaysia Cup.
“Every match is difficult for us and we need to play seriously, improve and keep growing,” he said.
Meanwhile, KL Rovers head coach Wan Mustaffa Wan Ismail said his team should bounce back in the return leg against JDT.
He said his team created several scoring chances and gave the Southern Tigers a tough fight despite the defeat.
“They played according to instructions; we tried to hold the midfield and launch counter-attacks. Our backline also defended until the last minute.
“But I am confident we have a chance to bounce back in the return match with a different style of play,” he added.
The return match will be held at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Nov 30.
Last night’s match was supposed to be held at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras but was changed to the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium upon KL Rovers’ request. – Bernama
