Even Though The Players Are Mediocre, PSIS Is In High Motivation Ahead Of The Match Against Persib In Week 25 Of League 1

PSIS Semarang coach, Dragan Djukanovic during a training session with the team (Photo: Twitter.com/@psisofficial)

JAKARTA - Week 25 of Liga 1 2022/2022 will schedule PSIS Semarang to face Persib Bandung at I Wayan Dipta Stadium, Bali on Tuesday, February 15 at 20.45 WIB.

Ahead of the match, PSIS has high motivation to get full points over the opposing team even though the stock of players brought is mediocre.

PSIS coach, Dragan Djukanovic said his troops were ready to face Persib who are currently at the top of the standings. Especially if you look at previous records, Persib was the team that gave PSIS the first defeat at the start of the 2021/2022 Liga 1 competition.

"For us our biggest motivation is to face a big game, we are ready to face a big team like Persib," Dragan said in a press conference ahead of the match, quoted from the PSIS official website, Tuesday, February 15.

Furthermore, Dragan also said that Laskar Mahesa Jenar had a special motivation ahead of facing Persib. Moreover, their troops are also starting to be declared healthy after being hit by the COVID-19 storm.

"Of course we will be more complete with the presence of players (who recovered from Covid-19). This is an opportunity for us to play a good match," said Dragan.

Dragan revealed, in the last practice, PSIS was only filled with 14 players. Alfeandra Dewangga and Pratama Arhan only followed after the U-23 Indonesian national team was disbanded due to canceling their match in the U-23 AFF Cup.

"Dewa just joined us but Arhan is still injured. Even though we have 15 players, we are ready to compete and work hard," said Dragan.

The coach said, currently PSIS is waiting for the final results of the PCR swab test. Should a player finally join the team at the last minute, Dragan cites that as a very valuable addition. Although, he realizes that players who have recovered from exposure to COVID-19 are not yet in one hundred percent condition.

“Our players are limited and we don't have many solutions to our problems. Especially with this hectic schedule, the players are very tired. Of course, the arrival of players can help the team, although not at one hundred percent they are very important for us," said Dragan.

Since getting hit by COVID-19, PSIS has continued to get minor results in its last three matches. PSIS recorded two draws and one defeat. For that, three points when meeting Persib are mandatory to be able to improve the standings.