SHAH ALAM, Oct 23 — Selangor FC must prove their worth on the field if they want a slot in the FA Cup final this season, head coach Kim Pan Gon said, as he reminded players not to rely on just their fighting spirit and hard work.
Ahead of tonight’s semi-final match against Kuching City at MBPJ Stadium, Pan Gon said the Red Giants must do their best and avoid mistakes that could affect their FA Cup chances.
The manager from South Korea also reminded his players not to underestimate Kuching City, who have represented Malaysia in the AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2) and have a quality line-up.
“We have the utmost respect for Kuching City because they represented Malaysia at ACL2. We saw that they brought in many quality players and have become a strong team.
“I think (qualifying for the final) is what we want. We have the spirit, but it must be translated through action. We have to present our best qualities for fans, avoid the same mistakes, and prepare well for coming challenges,” he said, as quoted by Kosmo Online.
Selangor FC players have the shadow of last season’s defeat to Sabah looming over them, which is fuelling their determination this season, he said.
Their clean sweep in the Super League is no reason to be complacent, Pan Gon said, reminding the squad to stay focused and prepare better to face intense competition.
He added that Selangor must learn from their defeat to Star City in the second leg FA Cup quarter-final on October 11, and not make the same mistakes at tonight’s match with Kuching City.
“We have to be aware and rise to make better preparations for the next stage. We cannot repeat the same (mistakes),” Pan Gon said.
