PETALING JAYA: Three down, three more to go.
Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) sealed the 12th Super League title in style after defeating Brunei 3-0 at the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan on Sunday but their celebration was muted.
This is because coach Xisco Munoz insists there is still plenty of work to be done as the season is far from over.
Munoz is eyeing for success in the international stage too.
The triumph a day ago extends JDT’s remarkable dominance in Malaysian football, with the club having won every Super League title since 2014.
With five matches still remaining, JDT now sit comfortably at the top of the table with 57 points from 19 matches, maintaining a perfect record of wins and holding a commanding 17-point lead over second-placed Kuching City.
The Southern Tigers have had already lifted the FA Cup and Charity Shield earlier this season.
Munoz, who previously coached top-flight European sides Watford in England and Dinamo Tbilisi in Georgia, wants his boys to keep the momentum going in the Malaysia Cup, Shopee Cup (Asean Club Championships) and the AFC Champions League Elite.
“We do not want to lose any points in the league. We have recorded 19 wins this season, and it must continue,” said Munoz.
“We want to have a perfect season and the hard work must go on.
“Plus, we want to push ourselves in every other competition. We are in the semi-finals of the Malaysia Cup, the semi-finals of the Shopee Cup (ASEAN Club Championship), and the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite.
“The demands of these competitions are different, but our mentality of always wanting to give our best has to remain. We have big ambitions that we want to fulfil and we will not compromise our character or strength.”
In the match against Brunei, Spanish midfielder Ager Aketxe opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, curling a superb left-footed free kick from 30m into the top right corner of Haimie Nyaring’s goal.
JDT doubled their advantage in the 73rd minute when Spanish wingback Oscar Arribas latched onto a pass from midfielder Afiq Fazail before firing a powerful right-footed shot past Haimie.
The third goal arrived just three minutes later. Brazilian winger Marcus Guilherme received a pass from Arribas, took a touch and produced a cheeky finish beyond the Brunei goalkeeper.
