Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) head coach Xisco Muñoz admitted his side had to dig deep before securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Negeri Sembilan FC in the Liga Super Malaysia 2025/26, but stressed that the club’s winning mentality ultimately made the difference.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Muñoz described the atmosphere at Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium as intense, acknowledging that JDT were pushed to their limits before clinching all three points.
“The positive thing for us is that we achieved what we came here for – three points. That is the most important thing at the end of the day,” said the Spaniard. “We knew from the beginning it would be a tough game. We prepared for that, and this is exactly what we needed.”
Muñoz admitted JDT were forced to remain patient despite facing resistance and disruptions throughout the match, with stoppages affecting the rhythm of play.
“It’s true the game stopped many times, and some players felt tired or had small issues. They tried to reduce the effective playing time,” he said. “But we need to continue until the end. That is our responsibility.”
JDT eventually found the breakthrough deep into stoppage time, a moment Muñoz described as a reward for perseverance rather than fortune alone.
“When one team takes around 20 shots and creates chances, this is football. Sometimes you need to keep believing,” he explained. “We also know we were a bit lucky in the box today, but luck comes when you keep pushing and working.”
The former Watford boss emphasised that celebrations after the final whistle reflected the emotional struggle his players went through to grind out the win.
“These moments allow you to express what you feel inside – the stress, the struggle, everything you go through in a difficult match,” he said.
Muñoz concluded by underlining the core values that continue to define JDT’s dominance in Malaysian football.
“Our mentality in this club is very clear – stay calm at the right moment, keep working until the end, and always think about winning,” he said. “The mentality here is win, win, win. And now, we move on and think about the next match.”
Credit Photo : JST
