PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) will look to keep the goals flowing on the road, while Terengganu must tighten their defence and find a positive result when the two sides meet in the Super League at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Gong Badak today.
The Southern Tigers arrive in Terengganu with confidence after beating South Korean side Pohang Steelers 2-0 in the AFC Champions League (ACL) Elite last Tuesday.
In the league, the reigning champions have steamrolled every opponent, winning all five matches and scoring 25 goals without conceding.
The Turtles, meanwhile, are seventh in the table with five points and are looking to snap a three-match winless run.
Terengganu coach Nafuzi Zain admitted that his side need to improve in both defence and attack if they are to put up a fierce fight against JDT, and wants his players to chase a positive result on home turf.
After a three-week break, Nafuzi said preparations had gone smoothly, including two friendlies against Kelantan to maintain the players’ momentum.
He added that the training period was also used to address existing weaknesses and raise both individual and team performance.
“We need to fix weaknesses in every aspect to improve the team’s performance. I see positive changes throughout training, and all the players are working hard to improve their respective performances,” he said.
Nafuzi is well aware of the strength and quality of the opposition, but stressed that his players must prepare thoroughly and avoid simple mistakes.
JDT coach Xisco Munoz, meanwhile, was delighted that his side achieved their target of three points in the ACL Elite clash at the Pohang Steel Yard Stadium in South Korea.
Munoz said JDT won because every player understood how to balance their tactical approach and thwart Pohang’s dangerous moves.
