Maniam looks at positives in defeat
MANY coaches would be angry if their team conceded soft goals, but this was not the case for Selangor trainer P. Maniam in the 31 defeat to Darul Ta’zim in Saturday’s Malaysia Cup Group D match at Larkin Stadium.
The result could have been different had the Selangor defence been compact.
But for Maniam, the defeat has come at the right time as he now knows what needs to be done in terms of strengthening his team for the two-leg quarter-final clash against defending champions Kedah.
Selangor will host Kedah in the first leg at Selayang Stadium on Sept 15 or 16, followed by the return leg at Darulaman Stadium on Sept 23 or 24.
“I have realised many things about my team from Saturday’s defeat. We have weaknesses and strengths that we need to work on further in training,” Maniam told Timesport yesterday.
“Defensively, we were not at our best. We were lacking in some aspects in terms of playing to tactics. Our man-to-man marking and tackling were also not at optimum level.”
“But these are small problems that can be rectified. Darul Ta’zim probably played their best game of the season during the match and they worked hard for the win.”
Kedah and Selangor met each other in the final of the 2015 and 2016 editions. Selangor won in 2015 with Kedah lifting the Malaysia Cup last year.
Maniam said the objective in the first leg will be not to concede goals.
“Kedah are a well balanced team with good foreigners and many locals who have represented the country.
“But I believe we can match them provided we overcome the shortcomings in our game. We need to score goals and avoid conceding in the first leg at Selayang Stadium,” said Maniam.
The winner of this quarter-final tie will play either newcomers Perak SEDC or Felda United in the last four.
Premier League side Perak SEDC fielded an experimental side in the 0-0 draw with Negri Sembilan in Paroi to top Group A, while Felda took second spot in Group B following the 2-1 defeat to Perak.
Felda will hosts the quarter-final first leg in Jengka.
“We have defied the odds this year. In our first season in professional football, we are not only in contention for promotion to the Super League, but also doing well in the Malaysia Cup.
“Felda are a good team, but we are not going to pay them too much respect. Our goal is to beat them and make the semifinals,” said Perak SEDC coach Abu Bakar Fadzim.
Felda coach B. Sathianathan said underdog teams are dangerous to play against in such competitions.
“Perak SEDC have nothing to lose. We need to be cautious and also treat them with respect as we lost to them in a friendly match recently. Everyone is saying that we have an easy quarterfinal tie, but I don’t think it will be a breeze,” said Sathianathan.