XISCO PRAISES TEAM'S DRIVE, CONSISTENCY AFTER SECURING FA CUP SEMI-FINAL SPOT

ISKANDAR PUTERI, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) head coach Xisco Munoz praised his players for maintaining their drive and ambition after the Southern Tigers’ convincing 3-0 victory, securing their place in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Munoz said the team’s consistency in displaying character and determination despite a hectic schedule reflected their commitment to the club’s objectives.

He admitted it was not easy to break down the opponent’s defensive line, with their first goal only coming after 38 minutes.

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“After a lot of games, we continue with the same ambition, the same character. We are hungry for what we need to do to take on big challenges. It’s one more game, one more step forward.

“One of the things we spoke about before the match was how difficult it would be when the players get tired. In the last third, it’s sometimes harder to open spaces against a low defensive block. At halftime, I told them to stay calm and make better decisions in the final third. 

“I’m very happy that all three goals came from set pieces. We spoke about different phases of play to open the game and create chances. We still have to work on some areas to be stronger,” he said at the post-match press conference.

On the team’s improved performance in the second half, the Spanish coach said it was not part of a deliberate plan but rather a reflection of the squad’s depth.

Looking ahead to their FA Cup semi-final clash against Kuching FC, Munoz expects a tough challenge, saying it would be a difficult match as the other side has a strong defence.

Munoz also noted JDT’s next Super League fixture against Terengganu FC on Oct 31, acknowledging the tight turnaround.

“It’s an important game. We’ll start preparing tomorrow. The players need to recover as much as possible. We have only about 52 hours, but that’s the schedule. If you play for JDT, you need to be ready, with character and ambition,” he said.

Meanwhile, Penang FC Coach, Wan Rohaimi Wan Ismail, expressed his satisfaction with his players' fighting spirit and discipline, despite their 0-3 defeat to JDT last night.

"Up to the 30th minute, we played well before we lost a bit of focus and were punished with three goals in about five minutes. Alhamdulillah, in the second half, the players remained focused, put the three-goal deficit behind them. They played with more composure and were able to compete with JDT," he said.

Wan Rohaimi acknowledged that JDT are on a different level and that it is not easy for any team to defeat them at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, which has been their fortress for years.

"We did not come here to surrender. We played and competed with great spirit. Although we lost 3-0, I am satisfied with the team's performance, " he added.

On tactical aspects, Wan Rohaimi explained that football depends on the management of space and time, and that failing to control these two elements gives a significant advantage to JDT.

However, he said that while disappointed with the result, the team's overall performance has shown improvement over the last few matches.

"The team's performance has been on an upward trend starting from the matches against Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, JDT, Kuching and today. Even in defeat, I am happy with their progress," he said.

--BERNAMA