Arema Trying To Hunt For First Victory Against Persija Jakarta

The interim coach of Arema FC Kuncoro in a press conference ahead of the match against Persija Jakarta in the ninth week of Liga 1 Indonesia 2023/2024. (Photo: Cosmas Kopong Beda/VOI)

JAKARTA The interim coach of Arema FC Kuncoro tried to bring his team to the inaugural victory this season when they faced Persija Jakarta.

Arema will play an away match against Persija in the ninth week of the 2023/2024 Indonesian League 1 at Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium, Bekasi, West Java, Sunday, August 20 tomorrow.

Arema came to this match with the status of the top team at the bottom of the standings and the only team that hasn't won this season.

"Against Persija, our team is determined to get points here. We know Persija is a strong team, playing at home. So, we have to adjust to the character of Persija players," he said.

Arema has so far only produced two points from the two draws they got from eight matches. The two series each occurred against Persib Bandung and Persis Solo.

On the other hand, Persija is currently in a much better position. They occupy the middle board of the standings with three wins, three draws, and two defeats.

Kuncoro mengakui bahwa belum pernah memperoleh kemenangan pada musim ini telah membuat mental timnya dalam keadaan yang tidak baik-baik saja.

"The mentality fell because the team never won. I was once a player. So, all strategies, tactics, if you concede a goal will be difficult to reply, it affects the players psychologically, we emphasize to players to forget the past match," he said.

Arema's bad results have started since the first week against Dewa United. In that match they lost narrowly by one goal.

Singo Edan then got points in the second week after drawing with Persib. However, in the third week they fell again when they traveled to Persik headquarters.

In the fourth week Arema lost again against Bali United. Then the second point of the season they got the next week when they met Persis Solo.

After that, they had to feel three consecutive defeats. Three defeats in the last three matches each against Barito Putera, PSIS Semarang, and finally against RANS Nusantara.