Selangor FC head coach Kim Pan-gon will lead the Malaysian Super League side into the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ for the first time on Wednesday believing he can continue the club’s revival against Group A rivals Công An Hà Nội FC.
The Red Giants host last season’s Shopee Cup™ runners-up on Matchday 4 buoyed by wins in their last four matches in domestic action under new boss Kim, who signed on as Katsuhito Kinoshi’s long-term replacement earlier this month.
“I am quite confident with our preparation,” said Kim, who previously led the Malaysia national team and won the K League 1 title during a year-long stint with Ulsan HD.
“I believe we have done very well, and I strongly hope our supporters will come to the stadium to support us. Their support will give us a lot of strength.
“We are trying to build our identity and our strengths at home, and our aim is to win our home matches. The players are confident, and we will give our best performance tomorrow.”
Selangor are unbeaten in their Shopee Cup™ debut so far this season with the club defeating Tampines Rovers FC in their only previous game at home in the competition.
They also drew on the road against defending champions Buriram United FC and with DH Cebu FC in the Philippines to sit in second place in Group A, one point behind leaders Tampines with two matches to play. The first two finishers advance to the semi-finals.
“International matches are always played at a higher intensity and quality compared to domestic competitions,” said Kim. “Công An Hà Nội are a strong team with good organisation and strong individual players, so we fully respect them.
“At the same time, we want to play our own way. We aim to control the game and dominate possession. Even against a strong opponent, we must take a step forward to build our own identity and DNA as a team.”
Công An Hà Nội will be playing competitively for the first time since December 18 due to the mid-season break in V.League 1 and coach Mano Pölking confirmed his side will be close to full strength for the must-win match at MBPJ Stadium.
Influential winger Nguyễn Đình Bắc is one of three players, alongside defender Phạm Lý Đức and midfielder Phạm Minh Phúc, to not travel with the team due to their recent involvement in the AFC U23 Asian Cup but the coach was unconcerned by their absence.
“They have just returned to the country, and we gave them a few days of rest because the rest of the squad had already been resting before,” he said the absent trio.
“We will miss them, but they have not been with us for some time anyway. The group that has been training together for the past three weeks is fully available and ready for tomorrow.
“We know this is a very crucial game for us. If we really want to qualify, we need the three points, and that is our clear target for tomorrow. We are fully focused on achieving that.”
Công An Hà Nội, who rank first in the tournament for total shots on target (27), are fourth in the six-team standings with four points having bounced back from an opening round loss against BG Pathum United FC to defeat DH Cebu and draw with Buriram United. Those results leave them one point behind Selangor and a further point behind Tampines Rovers.
“It is do-or-die, very clear,” Pölking said of the task facing his team. “But we believe we can do it.”
Share now
