JDT head coach Benjamin Mora (second left) and KL City FC head coach Bojan Hodak hold the coveted trophy during the pre-match press conference at the National Stadium at Bukit Jalil. — Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 30): Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) are determined to do whatever it takes to win the Malaysia Cup in conjunction with its 100th anniversary in the final against Kuala Lumpur (KL) City FC at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil here, tomorrow.
JDT head coach Benjamin Mora said as the defending champions, the Southern Tigers will maintain the team’s identity that is always thirsty for victory and aggressive game tactics in tomorrow’s clash.
“Of course you can expect JDT to be JDT, we are not going to sit back to wait and see what’s going to happen in this game. We are going to “eat the grass”, we are going to try to “eat” the opponents and we are going to score goals.
“That is the only way you can win a final, by scoring goals, so it’s simple as that. We came up to the final to win not just to play,” he told the pre-match press conference here, today.
After winning several titles including the 2019 Malaysia Cup since coaching the Southern Tigers in 2018, Mora admitted that it is very important for JDT to maintain optimal performance despite the ‘in-and-out’ of players and the coaching staff.
Thus, Mora said that the final against KL City is very important to the team as they have started to make a success of winning championships as a culture.
“So the motivation is there, it started to be a good moment then it became a habit and tradition. It now has become a culture in Johor and JDT that we must win anything that we play.
“It’s very difficult, the pressure is very high at its best, at the top, but well we have to cope with the pressure and we have to deliver to the management what they need from us,” said Mora, adding that his team is injury-free and the motivation of the players is at its best.
Meanwhile, JDT captain Mohd Farizal Marlias echoed the same, saying a win tomorrow was crucial as it would be historic and was confident that he and his teammates were up to the task.
“I believe I am not the only one who wants to win tomorrow’s match, tomorrow is very important for us and the club because we want to put the name of JDT as the champion of the Malaysia Cup in conjunction with its 100th anniversary. That means a lot to us and the club,” he said.
However, he admitted that JDT cannot take lightly KL City who have their own strengths, especially the threat from set pieces.
“We have played with KL City twice before and once allowed them to score through a set piece, it was a lesson to us and in football anything can happen. So we have to be more focused and not make easy mistakes in front of goal,” said the 35-year-old goalkeeper.
JDT, who were formed in 2013, have won the Malaysia Cup twice – in 2017 and 2019 – while this is the first final for KL City who were established last year.
KL City’s predecessor Kuala Lumpur FA had won the most prestigious trophy in Malaysian football thrice – 1987, 1988 and 989, all three times defeating Kedah. — Bernama