Persebaya Meets Persib In Week-32, Aji Santoso Hopes Full Team Clashes

JAKARTA - Persebaya will host Persib Bandung in Week 32 of Liga 1 2021/2022 at I Wayan Dipta Stadium, Gianyar, Bali on Saturday, March 19 at 20.30 WIB. This meeting is believed to be hot, because both teams are in the top three of the standings.

This match is also predicted to be able to determine the movement of the standings. Aji Santoso as the coach of Persebaya expressed a desire. The 51-year-old coach hopes that this hot match can be carried out by both teams with full team troops.

"In order for the match to be more exciting and interesting, I hope that both teams appear with their best strength and complete players," said Persebaya coach Aji Santoso, quoted from the team's website.

Regarding the desire to appear as a full team, Aji Santoso himself claimed that Persebaya would appear almost at full strength, only Marselino Ferdinand could not appear because he attended the U-19 national team training camp in South Korea.

"Ricky Kambuaya is also still in doubt because he has not recovered 100 percent. But we have other quality players in stock and the team must be able to pick full points," he said.

When asked about the playing of Persebaya ex-striker David Da Silva against his team, Aji Santoso said he was not afraid and had prepared a strategy to suppress him.

"It doesn't matter whether David Da Silva wants to play or not, because that's also not our business. What is certain is that we focus on the Persebaya team and play according to the instructions I have given," said the coach from Malang.

Meanwhile, young Persebaya defender Rizky Ridho conveyed his team's readiness on the field to suppress Persib, which is currently sitting in the runner-up position in the standings and still has the potential to win.

"My friends and I are all ready to carry out the coach's instructions on the field. We are still determined to get full points," he said.

Even though it's impossible to win, continued Rizky Ridho, he and all the Persebaya players are committed to going all out in the remaining matches this season.

"It is impossible for us to win, but the game must remain optimal and be in a better position than today," said the Indonesian national team defender.

So far, Bajul Ijo is in third place in the standings with 59 points from 17 wins, eight draws and six defeats.

This value is the same as that of Bhayangkara FC in fourth place, but Persebaya is better on goal difference. Meanwhile, in fifth place is Arema FC with a collection of 58 points.

Meanwhile, Persib Bandung as a potential opponent is in second place with 66 points and three points different from the leader of the standings, Bali United who pocketed 69 points.