BG Pathum United FC head coach Masatada Ishii has urged his side to respond strongly to their loss in the previous round of the ASEAN Club Championships Shopee Cup™ as the Thai League 1 outfit prepare for Wednesday’s crucial Group A encounter with DH Cebu FC.
The Matchday 4 fixture at BG Stadium comes at an important moment in the group phase, with BG Pathum sitting on four points and knowing a positive result would strengthen their push for a place in the semi-finals as the standings begin to tighten.
BG Pathum will be looking to make amends for their previous Shopee Cup™ outing, which saw them suffer a 3–2 defeat away to Tampines Rovers after surrendering a two-goal lead.
Goals from Tomoyuki Doi and Raniel had put the Thai side in control, before a hat-trick from Hide Higashikawa completed a dramatic turnaround for the Singapore Premier League leaders.
Despite that setback, Ishii insists his team’s objective remains unchanged as they look to regain momentum on home soil.
“Even though it has only been a short time since I became head coach of BG Pathum United, the objective remains the same,” said Ishii. “We want to win as many matches as possible. That is our goal every time we step onto the pitch.”
Midfielder Takaki Ose acknowledged the lessons learned from the loss in Singapore and stressed the importance of maintaining focus throughout the full 90 minutes.
“We believe we have trained well, and we want to show the work we have put in during training in the match,” said Ose.
“At the same time, we are trying not to repeat the mistakes from our previous game against Tampines Rovers, where we were leading in the first half but then conceded goals. We want to make sure that does not happen again.”
Wednesday’s contest will mark BG Pathum United’s final home match of the group stage, adding further significance to the occasion, with Ishii calling on the club’s supporters to play their part.
“It is very important for us to win this match,” he said. “Just like our other home games, this is a must-win situation. The support from the fans means a lot to the team and plays a very big role in helping us achieve a positive result.”
DH Cebu FC arrive in Thailand keen to test themselves against one of the competition’s more established sides, with head coach Glenn Ramos embracing the challenge that awaits his squad.
“This will be our third match in the Shopee Cup™, and the players are ready to compete,” said Ramos.
“We are playing against a very good team here in Thailand, especially BG Pathum United. The players are excited to play in this stadium, and we are looking forward to the challenge.”
Despite a recent break in competitive action, Cebu have continued their preparations with ambition, as Ramos highlighted his team’s desire to make an impact on the regional stage.
“We want to make history in the Shopee Cup™, especially when competing against high-level clubs in Asia,” he said. “The players have responded very positively in training, and we are excited for the challenge.”
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