JDT coach Xisco Munoz demands absolute belief to overturn a 3-1 deficit against Buriram United in the ACC semifinal.
JOHOR Darul Ta’zim (JDT) head coach Xisco Munoz has called for absolute belief from his squad to overturn a daunting deficit following their 3-1 defeat to Buriram United FC in the ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) semifinal first leg last night.
Despite the Southern Tigers dominating 70 percent of the possession at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, the visitors proved incredibly efficient by converting every shot on target into a goal.
“We can only say sorry for our fans. We tried to control the game and push from one side to another, but football at the end of the day is about who has more capacity to score,” he said in a post-match press conference.
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The coach acknowledged the defensive lapses but refused to point fingers at individuals, instead attributing the goals to collective mistakes made earlier in the play.
On the team’s prospects for the return leg, Munoz remained adamant that the tie is far from over despite the two-goal cushion held by the Thai giants.
“We need to trust in ourselves and we need to work. We are working for our logo, for our character, our spirit, and our ambition. We need to go there and try to change the situation.
“I believe in that because football has these situations. We must analyse everything and focus on how we can stop these situations,” he added.
Meanwhile, Buriram United FC head coach Mark Jackson expressed optimism about defending their championship title this season, citing total faith in his squad’s unity.
“I believe in my team and we can win every game. We are not being arrogant but we believe in our group capabilities and we can win this season together,” he said, praising the resilience and fantastic performance shown by his players throughout the match.
Jackson attributed the victory to the team’s excellent discipline and hard work, noting that the squad has proven they can adapt to various playing styles throughout this season.
JDT now face a massive hurdle at the Buriram Stadium, Thailand next Wednesday, requiring a near-perfect performance to overturn the 3-1 aggregate if they are to keep their championship dreams alive.
