JDT set for total dominance again after productive pre-season in Alicante
PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) are returning from Spain with valuable lessons and a clearer sense of direction after completing a productive pre-season stint in Alicante.
The Southern Tigers recorded three wins, two draws and two defeats from seven friendly matches.
On Tuesday, they defeated Saudi Arabian club Riyadh 1-0, which was their last match in the series.
Their other wins were against Spanish clubs Real Murcia (4-1) and Costa City 1-0.
They drew with La Liga club Levante (1-1) and English Championship side Cardiff City (2-2) and lost to Valencia (0-1) and Qatar club Al-Rayyan (0-1).
The club's chief executive officer (CEO) Luis Garcia of Spain said the results had given them a balanced mix of confidence and reality checks ahead of the new season starting on Aug 8.
'We have identified areas to work on to continue our good run in Malaysian football,' he said.
JDT will enter the season as the heavyweights, having won a triple quadruple – Charity Shield, Super League, FA Cup and Malaysia Cup from 2022 to the 2024-2025 season.
'The game against Al-Rayyan was a demanding match where we controlled and performed well for most of the game, though we missed the final touch,' said Garcia.
'The pre-season has allowed us to identify areas for improvement, to sharpen our game, and to prepare ourselves for the challenges of a long season ahead.'
Despite the mixed results, Garcia emphasised that pre-season was more than just scorelines.
'Moments like these build more than fitness as they build connection, unity, and a stronger bond within the group. We work, we play, we align. One objective, one direction. Let's keep growing together.'
Garcia, in his first full campaign at the helm of JDT, has unveiled a long-term vision.
'A new season begins, not just with a team, but with a vision. At JDT, every year is a new chapter to dream bigger, push harder, and lead with purpose.
'This is more than football. It's a project built on ambition, unity, and belief.
''The best is yet to come.'
JDT, who will kick off against Selangor in the Charity Shield on Aug 8, have set a clear mission – to write their next dominant chapter in the game.
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