Menpora Cup: Persija Coach Asks Players To Forget The First Leg Final Victory

Persija vs Persib (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Persija Jakarta coach Sudirman asked his team to forget about the 2-0 victory over Persib Bandung in the first leg and focus on winning the second leg of the 2021 Menpora Cup final.

"We must not think that we have won the match so that the players stay focused and have the passion to win the match in the second leg," said Sudirman during a virtual press conference after the first leg of the Menpora Cup final at Maguwoharjo Stadium, Yogyakarta, Thursday night, as reported by Antara.

According to him, the victory over Persib Bandung in the first leg does not guarantee that his team will be able to win the second leg final at Manahan Stadium, Solo on April 25, 2021.

"There is still a second match and of course we all stay focused, keep trying to show our best. We should not feel that we are superior," he said.

Sudirman admitted that Persib Bandung is a team that has never lost. However, he is also aware that Persib has conceded every game.

Taking advantage of that weakness, he asked his players to dare to attack and enter the Persib Bandung penalty box.

"Because Persib Bandung is a team that never loses but also not a team that cannot be scored," he said.

Sudirman said that he deliberately gave confidence to young players Braif Fatari and Taufik Hidayat in the first leg of the final, which finally contributed two goals to Persija's victory.

"Indeed we have young players who have the potential to develop. But we also have to look at the frequency of matches, the peak performance of senior players. If the senior players are not in good form we will provide opportunities for young players," he said.

Persija player, Taufik Hidayat hopes that his one goal can be a trigger to develop further. He wants to be able to continue to increase the opportunity to play at Persija so that he enriches his experience and can contribute to the team.

"I'm from Bandung and will prove worthy of being in Persija. Hopefully, the second leg can play better," said Taufik.