KUALA LUMPUR – Pau Marti Vicente has made a strong start in his first stint as head coach of the national team but believes his players need to be more physically aggressive if they are to clinch their first Merdeka Tournament title in over a decade.
The newly appointed coach’s comments came after his team had to come from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over the Philippines, booking their place in the tournament final at Bukit Jalil National Stadium yesterday.
The Philippines took the lead in the 28th minute through an own goal by Feroz Baharudin who deflected a low drive from Jefferson Tabinas into the net.
Malaysia equalised in the 43rd minute with a goal from Syamer Kutty Abba, and Safawi Rasid sealed the win with a penalty in the 73rd minute.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Vicente emphasised the significance of the victory, especially in light of the recent coaching change following Kim Pan-gon’s resignation in July.
“The win is more important for the team than for me, especially after the coaching transition. They needed to step up, and they did. It was a tough game, but we deserved the result,” said Vicente.
“In the last 10 minutes, we struggled. The Philippines were strong and physical, and we had to work hard to get the result. Now that we’re in the final, we’ll celebrate briefly before refocusing on the task ahead.
“What we need to work on for the final is our physical fitness, which is going to be very important. We struggled today but the Lebanese team we’ll face on Sunday will be even tougher because they’re known for their physical strength.
“It will be a battle of physical strength, and we must be more aggressive if we want to win the title,” Vicente added during the post-match conference.
Vicente also expressed hope that his team’s progress to the final would motivate Ultras Malaya, the country’s largest supporters’ group, to end their boycott and return to Bukit Jalil Stadium.
The boycott of the Merdeka Tournament was held to demand the resignation of Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin.
The protest was further fueled by Pan-gon’s sudden resignation and ongoing concerns within FAM.
“I hope everyone will come out for the final on Sunday. We worked hard for this win and gave the fans what they wanted.
“I’m not sure how many came today, but now that we’ve reached the final, I hope to see more supporters backing the team,” said Vicente.
Malaysia will face Lebanon in the final of the 43rd edition of the Merdeka Tournament, while the Philippines will take on Tajikistan in the third-place match on Sunday.
Harimau Malaya have won the Merdeka Tournament 12 times but have not lifted the trophy since 2013. – September 5, 2024
