Giants all pumped up for restart after high five
PETALING JAYA: Selangor are brimming with confidence for the resumption of the Super League after winning all five friendly matches in recent days.
The Red Giants are in buoyant form having scored 14 goals and conceded only two in wins over Penang (4-1), UKM (3-0), Negri Sembilan (3-0), Terengganu (2-0) and Kuala Lumpur (2-1).
The Klang Valley outfit’s pre-season early this year was affected when the Meizhou Hakka Cup in China was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic in January. In their first four Super League matches, they could only record a win, two draws and a loss.
Selangor coach B. Sathianathan said his men were better prepared this time. They resume their Super League campaign against Petaling Jaya City at the UiTM Stadium in Shah Alam on Saturday.
He also received a boost with the return of Nigerian striker Ifedayo Olusegun to training after completing a 14-day quarantine.
“The cancellation of the competition in China did affect us but now we have managed to iron out all the kinks in the team.
“We managed to get all the players who were previously injured to rejoin the team and feature in the friendlies,” said the former national team coach.
“However, it’s always hard to play the first game after a break, we will have Ifedayo back in the team but we will see his condition first. He told me he has training in his room ... he’s a player who can impact the team positively.”
“We can make five changes so having all the players available on the pitch is a massive boost tactically. We just need to be smarter about when to use the players.”
The 33-time Malaysia Cup winners are currently placed seventh in the 12-team Super League table with five points and they have seven matches to improve their position in the league.
Sathianathan also warned that their opponents PJ City would be like wounded tigers after losing their postponed match 0-2 to Terengganu last week.
“PJ City have already played a match so it will be easier for them to adapt. They will also be more desperate and will double their efforts,” said Sathianathan.
“We will have to fight tooth and nail against them.”