Azkals coach tickled pink

Only the top two teams of each group will make it to the semifinals.

Newly-appointed Philippine men’s national football team head coach Josep Ferre is delighted that the players are very receptive and willing to learn as the squad continues its grind in the 2022 AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup.

Speaking to the Philippine media for the first time, Ferre said he is happy about the team’s positive response to his handling of the team.

“In this short time, I will try to get as much information as I could. What surprised me is that the players are open to work and help in whatever they can do,” said Ferre, who worked with clubs such as Buriram United, Ratchaburi Mitr Phol, and Bangkok Glass in Thailand before finding his way to the Philippines.

“So, I really appreciate that they make my job easier.”

The Azkals are currently facing Brunei at the Rizal Memorial Stadium as of press time and are looking to bounce back after a 2-3 loss to Cambodia last Tuesday.

The Philippines will have to adapt fast as their next match will be against defending champion Thailand on 26 December in Bangkok before traveling back to the country on 2 January for a match against Indonesia.

Only the top two teams of each group will make it to the semifinals.

Azkals team captain Stephan Schrock said the squad owes it to the fans to perform well as this will be the first time they will play on home soil after the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019.

“It’s the first home game after the SEA Games for the men’s senior football team. We owe it to the country for a good performance and we worked on that in many different ways,” Schrock said.