FA Cup Win Gives JDT Players Greater Sense Of Conviction For ACLE 2024/25 - Bergson

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- After bagging the 2024 FA Cup trophy, Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) players get a greater sense of conviction when heading to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Elite (ACLE) 2024/25 competition in September, said Bergson Da Silva.  

The Southern Tiger midfielder said yesterday’s 6-1 victory over Selangor proved that his team will be able to put on a fight in the ACLE, which promises fiercer competition for JDT.

“Yes (this is good start for ACLE). We know difficult games are coming with tough opponents. But every year when we put our jersey on, in this competition, we are sure that there are more opportunity to show,” he said in the 2024 FA Cup final post-match interview at Bukit Jalil National Stadium yesterday.

Yesterday, the Southern Tigers defeated Selangor FC with a hat-trick by Juan Muniz, and a goal each from Arif Aiman ​​Mohd Hanapi, Bergson Da Silva and Heberty Fernandes, while the Red Giants only managed to score a consolation goal by Alvin Fortes.

Commenting on yesterday’s match Bergson said although JDT triumphed, he admitted it was not an easy match as Hector Bidoglio’s boys had played a hard pressing game through out the whole 90 minutes. 

“I think it (started) to become easy in the middle of the game. Well, pressing them all the time…  Always where we go, they follow us, and then they push us, we glowed up in between two halves of the game,” he added.

Based on the draw, the Southern Tigers will be competing against South Korean K1 League champions Ulsan HD FC, who are now under the guidance of former Harimau Malaya trainer Kim Pan Gon in the ACLE scheduled to be held from Sept 16 until Feb 19, 2025. 

Besides Ulsan HD FC, JDT will also face Thai League 1 champions Buriram United, Pohang Steelers, another team from South Korea; Shanghai Shenhua FC (China), Shanghai Port FC, Australian A-League Men champions Central Coast Mariners FC and Gwangju FC (South Korea).

-- BERNAMA