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National coach plays down chances of retaining title

PETALING JAYA: National coach Datuk K. Rajagopal has played down his side’s chances of defending the title in the AFF Suzuki Cup, which kicks off on Sunday.
Could it be just mind games? Or is he telling it as it is?

Rajagopal, who guided the national team to lift the Cup in 2010, claimed that the other teams in Group A – Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines – “are the favourites” in the biennial tournament.
The national team have been under heavy fire after dismal showings in their last three warm-up matches – losing 1-0 to Vietnam and 2-0 to Thailand before drawing 1-1 with Hong Kong last Wednesday.

“Yes, we are the defending champions but definitely not the favourites,” he said.
“Thailand, Vietnam and even the Philippines are the favourites this time as they’ve had good preparations and results in warm-up matches.

“I can’t promise we’ll win the tournament. Nothing is certain in life and, in football, you cannot give guarantees. I’ve never promised anything in the past and I’m not about to change that.”
Rajagopal said it was time for his team to step up a gear, with just days remaining before the AFF Suzuki Cup kick-off.

Malaysia open their campaign against Singapore in Bukit Jalil on Sunday. They play Laos on Nov 28 before the crunch match against Indonesia, whom they beat in the 2010 final, on Dec 1.
Rajagopal has retained 11 players from the team that lifted the AFF Suzuki Cup in 2010 and believes that this is the strongest squad he has assembled.

“I believe we have the best national squad for this edition of the tournament … even better than the one that won in 2010,” said the former international.
“The team is much more stable and it’s time for them to step up the momentum and focus on the opening match.”




THE STAR

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