Southern Tigers are favoured to win but coach Raul is cautious

PETALING JAYA: Super League leaders Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) need to win only four of their remaining seven matches to clinch their fifth consecutive league crown.

However, the Southern Tigers coach Raul Longhi, will not be resting on his laurel and will, instead, treat all matches like a cup final ties.

JDT currently top the table with 38 points from 15 matches and title rivals Perak are second with 27 points while Pahang are third with 24 points.

JDT’s remaining matches are against Terengganu at home on Wednesday, Melaka (June 26), Perak (July 11), Kedah (July 13), Kelantan (July 17), Perak State Development Corporation ( PKNP) (July 22) and Kuala Lumpur (July 27).

Longhi, who took charge in February as a caretaker coach following Ulisses Morais’ shock resignation, has done well to quickly steady the ship by drawing two matches and winning nine to get back on track to claim the Super League crown.

“The team will play all out and treat every single match as a cup final. We know that all our opponents will be out to beat us,” said the Argentine.

“We are on top of the table and are on track to retain the Super League title but we can’t get too comfortable with the lead. We need to be consistent in the final stretch of the league.”

Meanwhile, the 66-year-old denied that he has an issue with midfielder Safiq Rahim, who made only 11 appearances in the league with five from the bench.

It looked as though the international has been sidelined as his skipper’s armband has been passed to Singapore international Harris Harun.

“People are assuming that I have issues with Safiq but it’s untrue. Safiq is a good player. But he’s injured now and needs to improve on his fitness,” said Longhi.

“The coach alone does not decide on the starting line-up. At JDT, it’s a collective decision made by club owner (Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim), the sports and technical directors, my assistant and I.”