'Best squad' label brings no smile to Cheng Hoe
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Tan Cheng Hoe, the interim coach of Harimau Malaya, rejects the notion that having the "best squad on paper" promises automatic success in the FIFA Asean Cup. While the quality of players at his disposal instills confidence, he emphasizes that it does not guarantee victory in every match. Cheng Hoe stresses that every player must understand the demands of delivering their best performance in the national jersey, especially as fan expectations grow.
He acknowledges that a superior squad comes with higher expectations, requiring the team to secure results or wins to satisfy supporters. Cheng Hoe cautions against players being overly burdened by the weight of expectations, emphasizing that individual reputations and squad strength alone cannot guarantee victory in every match.
Instead, he advocates focusing on each match individually, aiming for positive results step by step. Given the short timeframe for the Group A competition, with Malaysia facing Indonesia, Singapore, and Bangladesh, Cheng Hoe urges his players to maintain focus on their responsibilities without worrying excessively about future matches.
The FIFA Asean Cup, hosted in Indonesia from September 25 to October 5, has Malaysia drawn into Group A alongside Indonesia, Singapore, and Bangladesh, with only the group winner advancing to the final. Harimau Malaya will kick off their campaign against Bangladesh in Jakarta tomorrow before facing Indonesia three days later.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
