KUALA LUMPUR – JDT’s defensive strategy crushed Selangor’s winning spirit to secure the FA Cup title, according to head coach Hector Bidoglio.
The 55-year-old Argentinian’s comments came after his team’s emphatic 6-1 victory over the Red Giants, which also marked the Southern Tigers’ third consecutive FA Cup triumph.
The clash between Malaysia’s top two football powerhouses, which drew a crowd of 80,350 fans at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium last night, saw Bidoglio adopt a defensive approach, with JDT executing 26 clean tackles over the course of the match.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Bidoglio expressed his satisfaction with the strategy and acknowledged the challenge of facing Selangor in a tournament final, despite the one-sided scoreline.
“It was never easy to play against Selangor, especially in the final. We had to play physically because they were quick on the counter-attacks, and we had already done our homework in advance.
“Even in (last night’s) match, they were threatening us on the flanks, so we had to ensure we moved faster with the ball and sprinted at the right moments on the pitch.
“As a coach, I must do everything to make my team win, and I’m grateful to have players who are intelligent and can execute my plans effectively.
“But most importantly, we need to keep improving and not become easily satisfied. We may be good today, but we don’t know what tomorrow will bring.
“So, we must continue working hard as we did today in all our remaining fixtures this season,” Bidoglio said during the post-match conference.
Bidoglio, who led JDT to a treble in 2022 (Super League, Malaysia Cup, and FA Cup), also made it clear he had no intention of showing sympathy towards his club’s archrivals.
He emphasised that his team could have scored more goals if the match had been extended by just 10 more minutes.
“I have my philosophy, and it’s very simple: attack at all costs. I have no time to feel pity for Selangor or consider reducing the number of goals.
“In fact, if there had been more time, say 10 minutes, I believe we would have scored another two or three goals.
“My team looks solid for now. It’s time to recover and maintain this momentum in the next games,” Bidoglio added.
JDT’s goals were scored by Juan Muniz (26th, 68th, and 90th minutes), Arif Aiman (43rd), Bergson da Silva (62nd), and Heberty Fernandes (76th), while Selangor’s lone goal came from Alvin Fortes (59th).
With this victory, JDT now matches Kedah FC and Selangor’s record as one of the most successful teams in the FA Cup, each with five titles. – August 25, 2024