Sanfrecce Hiroshima boss Bartosch Gaul was left reflecting on a night that felt more like a psychological thriller. From sleepless nights to red-card drama, the German tactician isn’t waving the white flag just yet.
Bartosch Gaul isn’t looking for excuses, but he’s certainly pointing out the hurdles. After a bruising 3-1 defeat to Johor Darul Ta’zim, the Sanfrecce Hiroshima head coach revealed a catalog of “challenging situations” that turned their trip to Johor into an uphill battle before the whistle even blew.
“If you heard fireworks in Johor Bahru last night, you weren’t the only ones.” Gaul revealed that his team’s preparation was rocked by a late-night pyrotechnic display right outside (or potentially inside!) their hotel.
“It was a hard night… fireworks two meters out of the hotel. There were a lot of challenging situations. This is the truth.” Gaul said.
The red card. Gaul was visibly frustrated with the officiating, claiming the referee showed a lack of “feeling” for the game’s intensity by brandishing a second yellow too quickly.
“It’s the key situation of the match. I told the referee—it’s no feeling for the situation. Too fast for me. I wish the referees could explain to the media why they gave that card.”
Despite being a man down, Gaul praised his side’s “unity and passion” for fighting until the end and keeping the deficit to two goals.
In a moment of candid observation, Gaul was asked about the lack of local Malaysian players in JDT’s starting lineup. His response was a mix of diplomacy and a subtle reality check.
“It’s difficult for me to answer… I don’t know the Malaysian individual quality because I couldn’t see it today. It’s a club philosophy, and it’s not up to me to give an opinion.”
With a crucial away goal in the bag, Gaul believes the mountain in Hiroshima is climbable. To move on, they need a 2-0 win on home turf.
Credit Photo : AFC
