KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia take on Laos tomorrow at Bukit Jalil National Stadium in their second 2022 AFF Cup Group B match, but the visitors’ head coach Hans Michael Weiss is uncertain of the Harimau Malaya squad that his men will face.
Speaking today in the pre-match press conference at the national stadium, Weiss said this is because Malaysia head coach Kim Pan-gon has been switching things up in recent matches.
“How we are going to approach the match tomorrow is still not 100% certain because we are not sure what team we will be going up against.
“But I think it is advisable to be defensive and have a compact and tight line to stop them getting their rhythm. That is the approach of an underdog team,” he said.
Pan-gon has been making notable line-up changes in the past few matches, with Lee Tuck and Stuart Wilkin scoring debut goals during their Tier 1 International clash against Cambodia.
Weiss also praised Harimau Malaya for their recent results, noting that they have been performing well despite missing players from Johor Darul Ta’zim FC (JDT).
“If the team is still playing well like this while missing players from JDT, then it speaks volumes for the team and their professionalism.
“It also speaks for the development from the youth stages to the top,” he added.
The German also said that Malaysia look to be clear contenders for the AFF Cup title, even though Vietnam appear formidable after thrashing Laos 6-0 on Wednesday.
He revealed that he is quite familiar with the Harimau Malaya set-up as he was offered the top spot several years ago.
“I have known the team well for 10 years and after my stint in the Philippines I was shortlisted for the top job in Harimau Malaya,” he said.
Weiss managed the Philippines from 2011 to 2014.
Meanwhile, Pan-gon said he is aware that Laos will be fortifying their defence after their loss against Vietnam.
“The most important thing is we respect the Laos team because after a big loss like that, and especially playing away, they will be resilient.
“So we need to be strong against Laos to achieve our target. They won’t be attacking much and will want to secure the ball and leave us with little room,” he said.
The South Korean also added that the status of several injured players including defender Ahmad Khuzaimi Piee depends on the medical team’s analysis.
Harimau Malaya opened their campaign with three points after beating Myanmar 1-0 on Wednesday, with keeper Ahmad Syihan Hazmi Mohamed making a crucial penalty save in the 89th minute.
After the match against Laos tomorrow, Malaysia will play Vietnam away on December 27, followed by their final Group B match against Singapore on January 3 at Bukit Jalil National Stadium. – The Vibes, December 23, 2022
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