Persija Jakarta Again Fails To Win, Thomas Doll Highlights The Slow Running Of Clubs In Recruiting Players

JAKARTA - Persija Jakarta again failed to win in the 2023/2024 Liga 1 match. After drawing against PSM Makassar in the inaugural match, Persija again had to share points when they met Persikabo 1973, Sunday, July 9.

Persija drew 0-0 when they visited Pakansari Stadium, Cibinong, Bogor. After the match, the Kemayoran Tiger Coach, Thomas Doll, actually highlighted the performance of club management.

Doll complained about the slow pace with the club bringing in new players, especially foreign players. This makes the capital team currently not have a complete squad.

Currently, Persija only have Marko Simic, Ryo Matsumura, and Ondrej Kudela from five plus one foreign player slot that they can have. The Kemayoran Tigers still have two foreign players and one foreign player from Southeast Asia.

"We are still waiting for foreign players and when compared to other teams, they are starting to complete. And in a situation like this, like before at the end of the match, finally young players from the academy can also play and can hold Persikabo at home," Doll said at a press conference after the match, as reported by Antara.

"But they are currently difficult and this is a consequence we are a little late (to sign players) for the transfer market this season," he continued.

In the match against Persikabo, Doll only played Simic and Ryo as members of the first eleven. Meanwhile, Kudela is still injured and must be absent.

The German coach also admitted that his team's game against Persikabo was far from satisfactory.

"Just like last week, we started the first half with a lot of technical mistakes, lost a lot of balls. Actually I feel that the team can play better and one of them has a great chance to score a goal through Aji in the second half," said Doll.

"But for the first half, I don't like the way they play. Surely the viewers who watch it on television also don't like the game," he continued.

Doll admits that Persija Simic's mainstay striker still hasn't found his best touch after not playing competitive matches for a while. It is proven that several times the Croatian player has wasted golden opportunities.

"You all know that because Simic hasn't played for a long time and we have to give him time and he has only joined maybe two and a half weeks, besides that Kudela doesn't exist because he gives stability from back to forward," concluded the former Borussia Dortmund coach.