Johor Darul Ta'zim head coach Xisco Munoz has urged his team to keep improving despite their 9-0 victory over Kelantan. Munoz stated that the large margin of victory was not the primary concern, as the team still needed to exert greater control in certain phases of the game while upholding the high standards expected of them. Munoz expressed his satisfaction with the team's overall performance, but emphasized the importance of continuous improvement.
He noted that the team's behavior and standards were crucial, and that they needed to maintain a high level of these standards while pushing themselves to excel. The coach also praised the defensive contribution and pressing of Iranian striker Shahab Zahedi, who scored four goals in the match. Munoz stressed that every player needed to contribute in both offensive and defensive situations, highlighting the importance of teamwork and adaptability.
Munoz also spoke about captain Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi, describing him as a special player who could bring a unique dimension to the team. The coach emphasized that Arif's role as captain and JDT's number 10 came with greater responsibility, requiring him to demonstrate more maturity, character, and personality while assisting his teammates. Regarding their upcoming match against Star City FC, Munoz said that the team would focus on studying their opponents' style of play, movement, and players during the short preparation period.
He also mentioned that JDT had been working on strategies to break down a low-block defense, which could be employed by Star City. Meanwhile, Kelantan's head coach Irfan Bakti Abu Salim described his team's 9-0 defeat as difficult to accept but unavoidable, citing the constraints caused by FIFA's player registration ban. He noted that Kelantan currently has only 20 players in the squad, with two injured, leaving just 18 available for selection.
Irfan acknowledged that the team's current squad lacked the quality and experience needed to compete in the Super League. He expressed his intention to draw on his coaching experience to develop the young and new players in the squad, but recognized that this alone would not be enough to overcome the team's current challenges. The defeat has highlighted the difficulties faced by Kelantan due to the FIFA ban, which has limited their ability to sign new players and strengthen their squad.
As the team looks to bounce back from this loss, they will need to rely on the skills and experience of their current players to compete against stronger opponents.
