Tight Schedule Not A Problem, Says JDT Coach Munoz

ISKANDAR PUTERI, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) head coach Xisco Munoz has backed his team to cope with a taxing schedule, saying players must be ready to meet the expectations of a big club despite limited recovery time.

He said he understood the challenges of the packed schedule but saw it as part of playing for a club competing at such a high level, and stressed the importance of having a strong coaching team working in tandem to keep the players fit and injury-free.

"It is important to have close coordination with the coaching staff in managing player fitness, given that we have another crucial (AFC Champions League Elite) match (against South Korea's Pohang Steelers) coming up on Tuesday (Oct 13).

"I am lucky because I have a very good coaching lineup backing me, and we coordinate well in getting the players ready for the heavy workload,” he told a post-match press conference after watching the Southern Tigers defeat Penang FC 4-1 in their FA Cup quarter-final, return-leg clash at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium here today.

That gave JDT an 11-3 aggregate win and a semi-final date against either Kuala Lumpur (KL) City FC or DPMM FC.

Commenting on the upcoming clash against Pohang Steelers, Munoz warned his players to be resolute in defence, clinical in their finishing and fully focused from start to finish.

“In the Champions League, being stronger in defence and clinical in attack is what makes the difference,” he said.

JDT began their AFC Champions League campaign with a 1-1 draw against Buriram United on Sept 15.

Meanwhile, Penang FC head coach Wan Rohaimi Wan Ismail attributed their defeat today to conceding an early penalty, which he said put his men under more pressure, especially after the 7-2 first-leg trouncing.

That, he added, led to his men committing simple mistakes and allowing JDT to dominate proceedings.

-- BERNAMA