AFC Champions League motivation for Perak to finish second

PETALING JAYA: The allure of playing in the AFC Champions League next season is something that Perak can’t resist.

And the Seladang coach Mehmet Durakovic wants his side to finish runners-up and book their berth in the second round of the competition’s qualifying playoff next season.

The race to finish runners-up is among second-placed Perak, who have 36 points, third-placed Pahang and fourth-placed Terengganu (both with 34 points) but with an inferior goal difference.

Johor Darul Taz’im (JDT) sealed the Super League title last week after collecting an unassailable 53 points from 20 matches in the 12-team table.

Durakovic said his side need to get the result against PKNS in their final Super League match at the Shah Alam Stadium tonight.

“JDT might have run away with the title but the season is not over for us because we want to finish second to play in the AFC Champions League,” said the Australian coach yesterday.

“It’s a three-way fight for the AFC slot and we could have wrapped up the second spot if we had beaten Kedah last Sunday but we could only draw.

“Now, we have to win the last game of the season.

“PKNS won’t be an easy opponent, they have good imports and seasoned locals plus we’re playing away too.

“We need to get the result here, we’re second in the standings. This is our highest position after 11 years and I want the team to stay there at the end of the season.”

Durakovic said finishing second will also spur the team to do better when they shift their focus to the Malaysia Cup which begins on Aug 4.

“We need to keep improving and move forward.

“The Malaysia Cup is the only silverware left in the season and we want to win it. But we need to take it one match at a time.

“We need to beat PKNS first and then build on the momentum for the Malaysia Cup,” said Durakovic, who guided Selangor to the Malaysia Cup in 2015.