PETALING JAYA, 22 Nov -- Pemain Selangor FC Alvin Mateus Fortes (kanan) berjaya menjaringkan gol pertama pasukan Selangor FC pada perlawanan Liga Super Malaysia, Pasukan Selangor FC menentang Pasukan Kelantan The Real Warriors FC di Stadium Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya, Kelana Jaya malam ini. Keputusan semasa Selangor FC 1 - 0 Kelantan The Real Warriors FC. -- fotoBERNAMA (2025) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA
PETALING JAYA: Selangor head coach Christophe Gamel is hoping that this year’s Christmas gift will arrive a little early, and in the form of new players to strengthen his squad.
Selangor have already been eliminated from the Asian Champions League Two (ACL2), and their 1-0 defeat to the Lion City Sailors on Wednesday, courtesy of a Tsiy Ndenge strike.
The loss saw them lying at the bottom of Group G with just one point from six matches.
While the current focus is on giving opportunities to Selangor’s young players, the team are dealing with a growing injury crisis and a lack of depth in several key positions.
And although their Asian campaign has ended, they still have a long domestic season ahead of them.
Thus, Gamel hopes he can bring in reinforcements when the second transfer window opens on Jan 5.
“Yes, I have the plan, but as I said earlier, we cannot change too many players. We need to continue giving opportunities to the younger ones.
“But there are two or three positions that, for me, need to be changed, replaced or strengthened. That is important. One is already coming back.
“You have all seen it, and it is the centreback. I still have two other positions to fill,” said Gamel.
Selangor are already without several key players, including Kevin Deeromram (hip injury), Alvin Fortes (gluteus injury), Zikri Khalili (hamstring injury), Zach Clough (groin injury), Sharul Nazeem Zulphakar (ACL and meniscus injury), while Mamadou Diarra and Fazly Mazlan are both suspended.
The situation has forced Selangor to recall defender Safwan Baharudin, who had been on loan with the Lion City Sailors in the Singapore League.
At the same time, despite the narrow loss to the Singapore side, Gamel chose to remain positive, noting that he gained valuable insights to help him make the necessary adjustments to his team.
Gamel, who had been in charge of Selangor II, was appointed to replace Katsuhito Kinoshi in September after the Red Giants endured a disappointing league campaign.
“I think we offered a good game. We knew the physicality up front was quite different and you can clearly see the gap.
“It’s good for us to gain this experience because when we play tougher teams, we must remember this and adopt a game plan that allows us to match them or grow our style so we can face anyone.
“It wasn’t the result we wanted, but the game plan was executed and the players played well. We were not afraid to play. I also gave them some game time. They struggled, but that was intentional. I used this match to prepare them for the future.
“And once again, it was a lack of discipline that cost us the game because we can’t complain about anything else,” he added.
