Michael Church (Reuters)
Singapore ●
Tue, December 28, 2021
Having the need to win the Suzuki Cup won’t be sufficient to finish Indonesia’s drought within the Southeast Asian championship, stated coach Shin Tae-yong, as he urged his aspect to play to their potential within the closing in opposition to five-times champions Thailand.
The 2 sides meet on Wednesday within the opening conflict of the two-legged closing in Singapore, the place the regional competitors is being performed in a biosecure ‘bubble’ as a result of pandemic. The second leg shall be performed on Saturday.
Indonesia have by no means received the event since its inception in 1996 and Shin stated they won’t turn out to be champions simply because they need to.
“I need to be champion this time however lifting the trophy does not simply occur since you need to raise the trophy,” stated Shin.
“Being the champion is one thing that comes your method while you do your finest in each single match that you just play.
“As a head coach I grew to become champion greater than 20 instances and, from that have of being a champion so many instances, I’ll utilise the identical technique and instil the identical mentality into the gamers and attempt to turn out to be champion this time round.”
It was Shin’s document of success that satisfied Indonesia to rent the 51-year-old in late 2019.
The previous midfielder was an Asian champion as each a participant and coach at South Korean membership Seongnam Ilhwa earlier than main his nation on the World Cup finals in Russia in 2018.
Whereas his workforce missed out on a spot within the knockout rounds, Shin’s aspect defeated Germany of their closing group sport in Kazan to get rid of the defending champions.
Since taking up in Indonesia, Shin has overhauled the squad, decreasing the typical age within the course of.
Indonesia booked a spot of their fifth Suzuki Cup closing with a 5-3 combination win over Singapore on Saturday that got here after a 4-2 victory in extra-time in a dramatic second leg.
Shin’s aspect go into the primary leg with out the suspended Pratama Arhan whereas Thai left again Theeraton Bunmathan can also be out after choosing up a second reserving of the event as his aspect eradicated defending champions Vietnam on Sunday.
“The gamers have gotten motivation as a result of we failed 5 instances earlier than,” stated Indonesia midfielder Egy Maulana.
“Now we have now the prospect, it is a massive probability for us, so the gamers have a powerful mentality and actually need to be champion.
“However we all know it is not nearly speaking about being champion. We’ve to work arduous and be sturdy as a workforce.”
