Just Put Asnawi In The Second Round Against Iran, Shin Tae-yong Beber Alasan: Check Condition

Asnawi Mangkualam, only dropped in the second half. (photo: Instagram.com/@asnawi_bhr )

JAKARTA - The coach of the Indonesian national team, Shin Tae-yong, revealed his reasons for his decision to field Asnawi Mangkualam in the second round of the match against Iran. He did that to see the condition of the player.

The Indonesian and Iranian national teams met in the third trial match in preparation for appearing in the 2023 Asian Cup which starts on January 12. Unfortunately, in the preparation match which took place on Tuesday, January 9, the Garuda Squad lost 0-5.

In the match at Al Rayyan Training Site, Qatar, Asnawi returned to the field after missing on two previous test agendas against Libya. However, the 24-year-old player only got a minute to play in the second half.

Regarding this situation, Shin Tae-yong gave an explanation. The South Korean coach said all decisions were made considering Asnawi's not too good condition as well as checking performance on the field.

"So Asnawi (Mangkualam) yesterday had a muscle problem. (When he fought Iran) Indeed he only played 20 to 30 minutes, it was to check his condition," said Shin Tae-yong about Asnawi's condition, quoted from PSSI's release on Wednesday, January 10.

In fact, Asnawi's presence in the team is quite crucial. Apart from being the captain, the player is also considered to be able to help build the team's strength.

However, when Asnawi had not been fielded, Shin Tae-yong still had a choice and appointed Jordi Amat to fill the squad captain position.

"He (Asnawi) really couldn't play from the start as captain, so deputy captain Jordi Amat who captained there (the match against Iran)," added Shin Tae-yong.

Asnawi's presence, who entered the second half, in fact did not change much. In the end, the national team had to receive bad results because they lost 0-5 to Iran, where the record also became the third eternal for the national team during the 2023 Asian Cup preparatory trial agenda.