Jamu Persebaya In SUGBK, Persija Strive For Victory Even Without Simic

Persija coach Thomas Doll (right corner) during a press conference at SUGBK, Senayan, Jakarta, Saturday 29 July. (Ulfa-VOI)

JAKARTA - Persija Jakarta will face Persebaya Surabaya in the 5th week of Liga 1 2023/2024. Appearing at the Gelora Bung Karno (SUGBK) Main Stadium, on Sunday 30 July at 19.00 WIB, the host will try to win even without the presence of the mainstay player, Marko Simic.

The term No Simic No Party will try to be ruled out by coach Thomas Doll in the match against Bajul Ijo. The situation follows the absence of the striker who is in Serbia for the recovery of injury.

Last week against Persita Tangerang, the Kemayoran Tigers failed to pick up full points. In that match Simic was actually in the line-up but before kick off he was absent from the squad due to a calf injury during the warm-up.

This situation even had to make the Croatian passport player absent for the next six months.

Simic's absence is clearly a big influence for the team. However, this situation will not be an obstacle because Persija coach Thomas Doll still has the option of playing Aji Kusuma up front.

"We focus on the existing players. There are several options that we can implement tomorrow, there are several of our midfielders who can help score goals. I also hope that there will be no attackers, all players can score goals," said Doll in response to the striker crisis problem at Persija during a press conference at SUGBK, Senayan, Jakarta, Saturday 29 July.

Although Doll admits that the absence of the flagship striker will make the situation a little different, he hopes that Simic's absence could actually be an opportunity to take advantage of other players' dexterity and change the team's style of play without having to rely on the striker.

"Our goal was to get into the penalty box, endangering the opponent, but indeed when Marko was in the box it became a different thing and our strength decreased," said the coach.

"But I want to change the team style in tomorrow's game. I think we have good plans for tomorrow, and yes, we can score goals in every situation and by all players, not just from the attackers," hoped Thomas Doll.