PETALING JAYA: Muangthong United are treating their last two games in the AFC Champions League Two Group H stage against Selangor today and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on Dec 5 as finals.
The Thai club, led by Italian Gino Lettieri, are third in the group with five points and knows that a defeat against Selangor at the Petaling Jaya Stadium today could spell an end to their continental campaign.
If they beat the Red Giants, then they will need another win against the South Korean side to survive.
Wingback Tristan Do said the team were prepared for the first ‘‘final’’.
“Whether they have a new coach or not, my concern is us. I want to ensure we play well and get a win. That is what we want,” said Tristan, who was born in France but has Thai heritage.
Selangor have just signed a new coach in Katsuhito Kinoshi of Japan.
“There are also talks about the weather and such, but we cannot do anything. We have to be ready for any circumstance.”
The 31-year-old Tristan would be entrusted to guard the Selangor flankers and help his wingers too by making overlapping runs, crosses and passes.
In the first fixture between both sides, Muangthong were held 1-1 at the Rajamangala Stadium on Sept 19.
Tristan said he would keep an eye on the front three of Ronnie Fernandez, Ali Olwan and Alvin Fortes.
“We know that the pressure is on us because of our position. Selangor just need a point and win the last group game.
Muangthong will enter the game with confidence, having won the last four games.
They thrashed Filipino club Cebu 9-2 in the previous Group H fixture on Nov 7, and in the Thai League, they beat Nakhon Pathom 3-1 (Nov 11) and Bangkok United 2-1 (Nov 23).
The other fixture was the FA Cup, where they beat Sisaket United 3-0 on Nov 20.
The winning momentum augurs well for Muangthong as Tristan and Co look to silence the Selangor fanatic crowd in Petaling Jaya.
