Big Match Persebaya Vs Arema: Almeida Reminds His Foster Children To Anticipate Bajul Ijo's Quick Attack

Eduardo Almeida (Twitter.com/@aremafcOfficial)

JAKARTA - Week 27 of Liga 1 2021/2022 features a big match between two giant East Java clubs, Persebaya vs. Arema FC on Wednesday, February 23 at 20.45 WIB.

Ahead of the match at I Wayan Dipta Stadium, Bali, both Persebaya and Arema are believed to be going all out. Because the competition at the top of the standings is so fierce, so every point you get will mean a lot.

Eduardo Almeida as the coach of Arema FC also admitted that the match would obviously be difficult for his team. For this reason, he asked Arema FC players to be able to anticipate Persebaya's game, which often carries out fast attacks.

"Persebaya are a good team, they are in the top five of the standings. They are famous for their fast attacks and always score goals in every game," Almeida said in a press conference ahead of the match, quoted from Arema FC's official website.

Regarding Bajul Ijo's quick attack on the field, Almeida could read that because he had analyzed how the opponent's game played. For that, in the match later Almeida will apply high vigilance on all lines of players in order to withstand Persebaya's attacks.

"With training and the quality of the players, we will hold back their attacks. We have analyzed the opponent and we will apply it to all our lines in the match," Almeida added.

Furthermore, the coach also admitted that the title of the East Java derby in the match will greatly affect his team's movements on the field. For him, the Singo Edan squad will be very motivated to be able to conquer Persebaya for their supporters.

"We know it's a derby and it's important for us to get points to stay at the top of the table and make the fans smile," he said.

Although he is sure that he will appear with high tension and motivation in the East Java duel, Almeida revealed that two of the team's mainstay players, namely Carlos Fortes and Dedik Setiawan, had to be absent.

Even so, Almeida guarantees that whoever is deployed later, they will definitely give their best and answer the team's target to win.

"We are playing with eleven players, whoever plays later will want to win," he said.

Arema FC is currently the leader of the League 1 standings with a collection of 55 points, even though they are already at the top but full points will still be Singo Edan's target. The reason is, it is useful to increase the distance with Bali United, which is in second place, which is only one point apart.

Meanwhile for Persebaya, three points in this match are also their main target. This is to boost the position in the standings, where currently Bajul Ijo occupies the fifth position with a total of 48 points.