Keep your focus
Selangor coach wants players to concentrate on Super League clash
PETALING JAYA: Selangor have an important assignment in eight days’ time – the Malaysia Cup semi-finals.
But coach K. Gunalan is more concerned with their penultimate Super League match against Perak at the Shah Alam Stadium today.
That’s because the Red Giants had gone down 1-0 to basement side Pahang on home ground on Sept 10. And he doesn’t want a repeat when they take on Perak.
“This match (against Perak) may not have much bearing on the Super League standings, but there is no such thing as taking it easy. The players will have to prove themselves because we want set up a winning momentum for the Malaysia Cup semi-final against Terengganu FC.
“That is a big game ... I want only the best from them,” said Gunalan.
The Red Giants will host Terengganu FC II in the first-leg of the Malaysia Cup semi-finals at the Shah Alam Stadium on Oct 1. The return leg is at the Sultan Ismail Stadium in Kuala Terengganu on Oct 15.
For now, Gunalan wants his men to give their best against Perak.
“People say that I should not risk key players picking up injuries before the semi-finals, but this is football ... they should be ready for the challenges,” said the former international.
Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) (52pts) have already clinched the Super League title while Felda United (42pts) are assured of second spot and Kedah (34pts) third.
Fourth-placed Selangor (28pts) are set to field their best team today, except for Argentine striker Mauro Olivi, who is still recovering from a knee injury.
Gunalan said that he might field two players returning from long-term knee injuries – midfielder Mohd Fitri Shazwan and defender Raimi Mohd Noor.
“I won’t make too many changes to my line-up, but I may try out Fitri and Raimi. I want to see their progress before considering them for the big game,” said Gunalan.
Focus on the Super League will shift to the teams in the bottom half.
Six teams – Perak (24pts), Police (21pts), Sarawak (20pts), Penang (19pts), Terengganu (19pts) and Pahang (17pts) – will more or less know whether they’ll stay put in the top flight or go down to the Premier League after the penultimate round of fixtures today.
The crucial match-up is between basement side Pahang and 10th-placed Penang at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan.