Vingada to make several changes in today’s match
BURIRAM: National head coach Nelo Vingada is expected to make several changes in the line up for today’s second Asian Cup qualifier against North Korea, following a humiliating 1- 4 defeat against Jorn Andersen’s squad in their first match two days ago.
Vingada said the changes were vital as several players were still nursing injuries and have yet to recover from fatigue.
“Many players have yet to recover from the first match which was held about 48 hours ago. The situation is very difficult, but we have an obligation to play in the match and play it well. We feel we could play better, “he said during a pre- match media conference at the i- mobile Stadium here, yesterday.
The match between Malaysia and North Korea will start at 7pm (8pm Malaysia time), today.
According to him, yesterday’s match did expose a gul f of di f ferences in qualities and standards between the Malaysian League and i nternat ional matches.
The match between Malaysia and North Korea he said, was played in a high tempo which the Malaysian players were not accustomed to.
“They (the Malaysian players during the North Korean match) were made to run faster and longer than what they used to in the Malaysian League,” he said, adding that the tempo and quality of Malaysia’s domestic league need to improve and be on par with international leagues.
He described the Malaysian League like a ‘normal car’, whereas the international matches as a ‘super car’.
Nevertheless Vingada said, he saw improvement in the quality and standard of matches in the Malaysian League since being appointed as the Malaysian coach last May, but more efforts are needed.
The improvement need to be sustained to enable Malaysian players to catch up with international players.
The 64- year- old coach from Portugal who came under stinging criticism after yesterday’s defeat, the sixth since appointed to the job, cautioned Malaysian fans that efforts to overhaul Malaysia’s footballing fortunes takes time and not to expect overnight success. — Bernama