Johor Darul Ta’azim (JDT) head coach Mario Gomez has confirmed that he’ll be ringing the changes for their AFC Cup clash against Lao Toyota FC, later tonight.
With fixtures piling up and players being required to fulfill national call-ups over the next few weeks, Gomez believes that it’s crucial for them to keep their squad fresh, considering that tonight’s clash will be played at home.
“A few key players will be rested because we have had a couple of tough games recently,” he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian.
“I am confident that the players are ready and we will play our best game, especially since we have home ground advantage.
The last time JDT played an AFC Cup tie at home, they annihilated Ayeyawady United 8-1, before going on to secure a narrow 1-0 win over Bengaluru FC in India, last week.
Though they’re sitting comfortably on top of their AFC Cup group, Gomez sees no reason to underestimate their counterparts from Laos, tonight,
“I have studied their gameplay when they lost 4-2 to against Ayeyawady United. However, they might change their tactics and we have to be ready for that,” Gomez added.
WHAT DO WE THINK?
The Southern Tigers will be a step closer to round of 16 if they claim all three points tonight at the Larkin Stadium. But it’s equally smart for him to rest key players and give others a chance to stake their claim. The likes of Safee Sali, Gary Steven and Mahali are all likely to start, while Safiq and Kunanlan will probably be rested. But that being said, there can not be any room for complacency. Lao Toyota have got nothing to lose and that underdog sentiment could allow them to play free-flowing football tonight.
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