Zainal: Elephants thriving under pressure
PETALING JAYA: Pahang are relishing the pressure of the Super League title race.
The Super League is still an open race with eight more matches remaining but Pahang have underlined their credentials as champions elect following their 3-1 comeback win over Selangor to end their nine-year winless run at the Shah Alam Stadium on Saturday.
Hosts Red Giants raced ahead with centreback Robert Cornthwaite’s strike in the fifth minute but Pahang came alive in the second half with goals by Zesh Rehman (52nd), Matias Conti (59th) and Mohd Hafiz Kamal (70th) to claim full points.
Pahang coach Zainal Abidin Hassan was pleased as punch, saying his team deserved to be on top of the league.
“We were bottom of the league early in the season, but we kept fighting hard.
“I think we are going great guns now and the players are thriving under pressure,” said the former international.
“Pressure is a norm in football ... we are well aware of the chasing pack behind us but as long as we keep ourselves grounded and keep collecting points, we can win the league. But we have to keep in mind that the league still has a long way to go.
“The players are hungry for success after we failed to defend the FA Cup. They are also much more mature now and peaking at the right time in the league. I couldn’t ask for anything more from the players now.”
The east coast side have 30 points after 14 matches, two ahead of defending league champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT). Perak are third with 27 points followed by Selangor in fourth on 24 points.
Commenting on the win over Selangor, Zainal said Pahang won because the players followed his instructions to a T.
“Selangor’s early goal stunned us. We were beginning to lose shape as the players were too fired up to get the equaliser.
“During the breather, I told them to maintain our tactical discipline or Selangor would punish us,” said the 53-year-old Zainal.
“We also increased our attacking tempo. The players followed my instructions and managed to complete the comeback win.”