Jadet in the mood for revenge
Port out to make amends for FA Cup loss to Buriram, Bangkok United seek victory in Korat
>> Port coach Jadet Meelarp is digging deep for ideas to avenge an FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Buriram United on Wednesday, but his worn-out squad might not have the strength to help him realise his goal in their Thai League 1 battle at home tomorrow.
Port have fallen six points behind True Bangkok United in the race for second spot in the league after losing the head-on battle between the two sides last week and another slip could spell an end to their quest for a playoff berth in the next year’s AFC Champions League.
The Thai league champions are granted a direct entry into the group stage while runners-up and FA Cup winners earn places in the play-offs of the Asian club competition.
Jadet said his biggest worry was not the strength of league leaders Buriram but the tired legs of his own men.
“There are too many matches to play at this crucial stage of the season,” said Jadet, whose Port lost their quest for the FA Cup on Wednesday night following a 3-1 home defeat to the Thunder Castle.
Jadet said he has heard managers of other teams also complain about the crowded schedule.
“It is too much,” he said. “It isn’t only that the players are fatigued. They are rather bored of football. I am finding it difficult to boost their morale.
“We don’t have the strength in depth like Buriram United so we can’t effectively rotate the players.
“Our form has dipped, we are tired and we need to get back to our original style in the quickest time possible. I am hoping that the break will help.”
The league will have a one-month hiatus after this weekend’s games to allow the national U23 team to prepare for the Asian Games, which get underway on Aug 18 in Indonesia.
Sirichai Kimoto, assistant manager of Buriram United, said he wasn’t expecting another big win at PAT Stadium tomorrow.
“Port are a good team and they must have taken note of our strengths and weaknesses during the FA Cup quarter-final,” he said. “We are still struggling to find the right balance between our attacking game and defence. On Wednesday, we were only good in the first half against Port. We need to be consistent over 90 minutes.”
Buriram’s strikeforce will again be led by Brazilian forward Diogo Luis Santo.
Second-placed Bangkok United will be at Nakhon Ratchasima with their chairman Kajorn Chearavanont urging his team to reproduce the form that helped them record a comefrom-behind 2-1 win over Port last week “one more time”.
“We need to play like that,” he said. “In my six years at the helm of the team, it was our best game. We have to regain our form and claim the play-off spot in the AFC Champions League by finishing second in the league.” United; Port v Buriram
7pm — Suphanburi v Muang Thong; Ubon v Police Tero