PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) are firing on all cylinders across domestic and regional competitions, but maintaining such formidable form comes with their own set of sacrifices.
The Southern Tigers have set their sights on retaining the Super League and Malaysia Cup titles after lifting the FA Cup last year.
They are also in contention in the Asean Club Championship Shopee Cup and the AFC Champions League (ACL) Elite, underlining their relentless pursuit of silverware on multiple fronts.
However, the packed schedule has brought its own challenges, from constant squad rotation to uncertainty over player availability.
The situation was compounded when three key players, Jon Irazabal, Joao Figueiredo and Hector Hevel, were suspended by FIFA over alleged false documentation.
The suspension was temporarily lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Jan 28, but their long-term status remains uncertain pending the CAS hearing.
Despite the off-field distractions, JDT have continued to deliver on the pitch.
After defeating Melaka 3-1 in the Malaysia Cup quarter-final second leg at Hang Jebat Stadium on Wednesday, they advanced emphatically with an 8-1 aggregate victory.
Focus now shifts back to the Super League, where JDT will face Penang at the City Stadium in Georgetown tomorrow.
Coach Xisco Munoz stressed the importance of maintaining momentum amid the hectic schedule.
“We want to continue building momentum. We have a demanding schedule with many matches, so we need to rotate players in certain situations,” said the Spaniard.
“The most important thing is that we’ve progressed to the next round, and in 24 hours, we have another game.”
Addressing the challenges posed by the congested calendar and uncertainty surrounding player availability, Munoz admitted it has not been easy.
“It’s difficult because sometimes we cannot train properly on the pitch due to constant travel and back-to-back games. But this is our schedule, especially at this stage of the season.
“Right now, everyone must stay fully focused and mature in certain situations. These are important and exciting moments for us, and we must aim to achieve big objectives.”
