Munoz praises players for showing they're ready to handle huge expectations
PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta'zim coach Xisco Munoz hailed his players for how they embraced the weight of wearing the Southern Tigers' badge in their commanding 3-0 win over Selangor in the Charity Shield on Friday.
'I'm happy with the boys. It's not easy to deal with the idea of JDT and the pressure behind it,' said Munoz.
'We want to do everything for the badge. I know how these boys worked during pre-season. We will enjoy today, and then plan the next game the next day.'
JDT struck early through a defensive lapse from Selangor, setting the tone against a side that sat deep to frustrate them.
The breakthrough rattled the visitors, and while Selangor threatened in transition, JDT's midfield changes in the second half opened the game up.
A superb individual effort from Arif Aiman Hanapi, dancing past his marker before slotting home, killed the contest and sealed the win.
'From the first minute, we had good momentum and commitment,' said Munoz.
'Selangor played a low block, so in the second half we added two midfielders to gain more control in central areas. Arif's goal was a great individual moment.'
But the Spaniard was quick to caution against complacency.
'We need to improve. The last third lacked patience and control. Step by step, we will be even better.'
Selangor coach Katsuhito Kinoshi conceded the first goal upended his plans.
'I calculated we might concede one or two, but you must be in the game from the first minute,' he said.
'JDT punished us for losing concentration. They know when to dribble, when to pass, when to hold the ball - these small things separate us from them. But we will not give up to close the gap.'
Even in defeat, Kinoshi found admiration for JDT's star man.
'Arif is a top player, even with all their foreigners. We tried to push him wide but he still found the near post and scored. His ability is way higher.'
With Negri Sembilan next for JDT, Munoz's men have already sent a message - they can carry the burden of favourites and thrive under it.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Familiar foes and faces for Selangor in tough AFC Champions League 2 group
PETALING JAYA: Selangor's AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) campaign will have a distinctly South-East Asian flavour and the Red Giants know they are in for a big fight. Drawn into Group G, Selangor will face Indonesian Liga Satu champions Persib Bandung, Singapore Premier League winners and last season's ACL2 runners-up Lions City Sailors, and Thai League contenders Bangkok United. For coach Katsuhito Kinoshi, the group presents both challenges and opportunities. "Our opponents are close to our country, so in terms of travel and conditioning, it's ideal," said the Japanese tactician. "All three teams have history, so we must be in good shape. It doesn't matter who the opponent is – what matters is who we are and how we play. We want to win every game, take it match by match, and reach the knockout stages." There will be familiar faces across the pitch. Persib coach Bojan Hodak has squared off against Selangor countless times during his spells in Malaysia, while his Argentinian playmaker Luciano Guaycochea captained Perak and has faced the Klang Valley side before. The reunion extends to Safuwan Baharuddin, Selangor's former skipper, who will line up for Lions City Sailors while on loan from the Red Giants. And Kinoshi is already wary of the Singaporean champions' marquee striker Anderson Lopes, the J1 League's top scorer last season. "I've watched him many times - he's a quality player. If a club have someone like that, it shows they're serious about reaching the next stage," Kinoshi added. Last season, Selangor fell short in the group stage, as Jeonbuk Hyundai and Muangthong United advanced. This year, they aim to write a different story. Meanwhile, Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) have been drawn into one of the toughest groups in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025-26 East Zone League Stage. The Southern Tigers will welcome Shanghai Port and Shanghai Shenhua from China, Japanese powerhouse Vissel Kobe, and J-League surprise package Machida Zelvia to the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri. Their away fixtures will be equally testing, with trips to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Japan, Chengdu Rongcheng in China, Thai champions Buriram United, and A-League side Melbourne City.
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
JDT faces tough ACL Elite draw with top Asian clubs in 2025
JOHOR DARUL TA'ZIM (JDT) will face a stern test in the 2025/26 Asian Football Confederation Champions League Elite (ACL Elite). The Malaysian champions were drawn against Chinese Super League winners Shanghai Port FC and Shanghai Shenhua FC. Japan's titleholders Vissel Kobe and Machida Zelvia will also visit the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri. Shanghai Port are the current Chinese champions, while Vissel Kobe claimed Japan's top-tier league last season. For away matches, JDT will travel to Thailand to face Thai League winners Buriram United. The Southern Tigers will then head to Australia to take on Melbourne City FC. Further fixtures include clashes with Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima and China's Chengdu Rongcheng FC. JDT avoids South Korean sides Gangwon FC, Ulsan HD, and FC Seoul in this edition. Last season, JDT's campaign ended in the round of 16 after a 1-0 aggregate loss to Buriram United. The 2025/26 ACL Elite will run from September 15 to April 25 next year. Teams are split into West and East zones, with each side playing eight matches (four home, four away). Defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC headline the West zone alongside Al Hilal and Al Ittihad. The top eight teams from each zone advance to the knockout stage in March 2026. The final stages will be held in Saudi Arabia under a centralised format in April. - Bernama
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Minnows UM-Damansara ready to fight tooth and nail with JDT in FA Cup tie
PETALING JAYA: UM-Damansara are stepping into the Southern Tigers' Den on Friday (Aug 15) for an FA cup round of 16 first-leg tie, with most expecting Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) to roar to victory long before the first whistle. But the A1 Semi-Pro League side aren't just going to roll over as they are plotting an unlikely upset. Their preparation included a dress rehearsal of sorts last week against JDT II in league action, a narrow 0-1 defeat that offered both lessons and warnings. Centreback and former national Under-23 defender A. Shivan Pillay knows the challenge ahead and is under no illusion. "We did well against JDT II but the main team is 100 times better," said the 24-year-old, who has featured for Super League sides like Petaling Jaya City, Perak and Selangor. "We've trained hard for this game, focusing on our plan. The goal is simple – keep the scoreline tight and make the most of any chances." UM-Damansara, led by coach Ridzuan Abu Shah, will take inspiration from Negri Sembilan, who stunned JDT by taking a 2-0 lead before eventually falling 3-5 in their Super League clash. "We must defend stronger and hit them on the counter. We've seen how their backline sometimes plays high - there are spaces to exploit," Shivan added. "We have to run for every ball, give every ounce of effort, and hopefully, we can score." Originally slated for UM Arena in Kuala Lumpur, the match was moved to the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium after the Malaysian Football League deemed UM-Damansara's home ground below standard. That means facing JDT not once, but in effect twice on their home turf. Shivan admits the squad have talked about the scale of the challenge and the likelihood of a long night as they prepare to face a star-studded attack featuring Brazilians Bergson Da Silva, Jairo Da Silva and Heberty Fernandes, along with national striker Joao Figueiredo and Malaysia's golden boy Arif Aiman Hanapi. "It's going to be a long game because these are top professionals," Shivan said. "But playing against players like this makes you better. We'll cherish the exposure and do whatever it takes to limit the goals." Ahead of the tie, UM-Damansara received a timely boost with the arrival of winger Sean Gan Giannelli. The 28-year-old, formerly with Kuala Lumpur from 2023 to 2025, was part of the JDT set-up between 2016 and 2019. "Sean has Super League experience and knows what it's like to play for JDT. He'll be key for us, especially on the break," said Shivan.
