JDT coach Xisco Munoz praises his squad’s character after their thrilling 3-3 draw with Chelsea, saying the result capped a strong pre-season campaign
ISKANDAR PUTERI: Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) thrilling 3-3 draw against English Premier League (EPL) giants Chelsea FC at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium (SSI) tonight served as the perfect close to their pre-season campaign ahead of the new season.
JDT head coach Xisco Munoz expressed immense pride in his squad’s performance and high-character display against the world-class opposition throughout the 90 minutes.
He said the high-profile fixture was not only a test of physical and tactical resilience, but also proof that the team’s extensive pre-season preparations had borne fruit.
“I want to say again thank you to our players, because today was an amazing performance. They played very well. This is the level of what we are doing in the pre-season, playing with this character, passion, and power.
“It is one step more for us. We need to prepare for the season, because the season surely is strong,” he told a post-match press conference at SSI here, yesterday.
Elaborating on the squad’s depth, Munoz said that healthy competition among the players in the squad remained the cornerstone of the Southern Tigers’ drive and consistency on the pitch.
He noted that the players’ tactical maturity was evident in how they managed different phases of the game, transitioning seamlessly from a low block and middle block to high pressing.
“The most important thing they need to know is nobody can sleep in our squad. Everyone needs to give their maximum for our logo in all situations because our ambition is very high,” he added.
In tonight’s match, JDT held FIFA Club World Cup champions Chelsea to a 3-3 draw in an international friendly match at SSI here today, with Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi, Oscar Aribas and Bergson Da Silva scoring one for JDT.
