CHALLENGE CUP: COPS' COACH ADMITS RED GIANTS' FIGHTING SPIRIT MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE

PETALING JAYA, Feb 16 (Bernama) — Despite having a numerical advantage, PDRM FC head coach P. Maniam admitted that Selangor FC’s determination with 10 men gave the Red Giants the upper hand in the 2024-2025 Challenge Cup Final 1 at the Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) Stadium last night.

Maniam also credited the Red Giants’ resilience and intensity after receiving a red card while emphasising the need for his team to improve their transition play and work harder for the next match.

“In football when you play with 10 players, they will be giving more than 100 per cent but us with 11 players, we were a little bit more comfortable. This is what psychology sometimes doet but  anyway, congratulations to Selangor.

"I don't want to give excuses, I take blame because I am the coach. We have another opportunity (the Final 2),  so the players must understand, we are going to play another 90 minutes, it will not be easy, but it's not impossible (for us to win),” he said this during the post-match press conference last night.

Meanwhile, Selangor FC head coach Katsuhito Kinoshi described his team’s 3-2 victory over the Cops as a “big win,” praising their resilience after being reduced to 10 men just 10 minutes into the match.

Kinoshi viewed the challenge as a test of character for his players and praised them for rising to the occasion.

“For me, it’s a big win. Playing with 10 players for 80 minutes is never easy, but at halftime, we reminded the players to stay united and be on the same page,” he said, eager to lift the cup with his team.

The two teams will face off again in Final 2 on Feb 22 at the same venue.

PDRM FC clinched last season’s title after defeating Kuching City with a 4-1 aggregate score in the final.

— BERNAMA