JDT must be wary of Kedah in Charity Shield clash

PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) may have won the big two last season – the Super League and the Malaysia Cup – but Kedah can claim they have bragging rights too, bagging the FA Cup and the Charity Shield.

And the Red Eagles plot to go one up on JDT by winning their Charity Shield clash at the Larkin Stadium tonight.

The season opener is also a repeat of last season’s Charity Shield and Malaysia Cup final clashes between the two sides.

Kedah won the Charity Shield after edging the Southern Tigers 5-4 on penalties after the match ended 1-1.

But JDT got their revenge by beating holders Kedah 2-0 to lift their first-ever Malaysia Cup.

JDT received an early boost ahead of tonight’s match after re-signing Argentine midfielder Gonzalo Cabrera but coach Ulisses Morais is keeping a lid on his game plans.

“I’m happy to have Cabrera but it’s not all about him.

“He’s a good player but we have other equally good players in the team too,” said the Portuguese coach in the pre-match press conference yesterday.

“We know how good Kedah are. They have a new coach and we expect them to play the same style as last season.

“But what’s important is being focused on our job.

“We know their strengths but we must also play to our strengths.”

Meanwhile, Kedah coach Ramon Marcote, who’s making a comeback to Kedah after serving as an assistant coach in 2015, said the FA Cup champions would start as underdogs.

“It’ll be a difficult game against the biggest team in Malaysia. JDT are a club with fantastic facilities, good players and coaches but we have confidence.

“We will try our best to win the game,” said the 40-year-old Spaniard.

“We came here to win the game, we have trained well, the players are working hard and getting better. I have confidence in the team.”

“Tomorrow we’ll see who’s available as one of our foreigners is doubtful.

“We’ll look at his situation tomorrow. “I don’t think too much about JDT as I’m more concerned about our team.

“We have our philosophy and we will stick to our game plan.”