Kim Pan-gon insists Selangor FC will not underestimate Buriram United despite the Thai giants missing two key players ahead of the first leg of the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup final.
The highly anticipated final clash will see defending champions Buriram United travel to Malaysia to face Selangor at the MBPJ Stadium on Wednesday night, with both clubs aiming to seize an early advantage before the return leg in Thailand.
Speaking during the pre-match press conference, Kim expressed pride in leading Selangor and Malaysian football onto one of Southeast Asia’s biggest club stages.
“We are very proud to represent Selangor and Malaysian clubs in reaching this final. It is something very exciting for us and we are looking forward to tomorrow’s match,” said Kim.
“So far, the atmosphere within the team has been very positive and our preparations have gone smoothly. We are ready to give our best performance and hopefully deliver a result that will make our supporters happy.
Although Buriram United will be without suspended duo Guilherme Bissoli and Goran Causic, Kim believes the Thai side still possess one of the strongest squads in the region.
The former Malaysia national team head coach acknowledged Buriram’s stature as a club regularly competing at the highest level in Asia.
“We respect Buriram United as a club representing Southeast Asia in the AFC Champions League Elite. They are a very respected club,” he explained.
“Their players are individually strong and also very strong collectively as a team. We fully respect them, but at the same time we want to prove our own quality and we want to win tomorrow.”
Rather than concentrating on Buriram’s absentees, Kim stressed that Selangor’s priority remains on maximising their own performance and tactical discipline.
Regarding the absence of Bissoli and Causic, the South Korean tactician warned that Buriram still have enough depth and experience to remain extremely dangerous.
“About the absence of their two key players, I believe the other players are equally strong,” Kim told reporters.
“I see many quality players in their squad. So we are not focusing too much on that fact. Instead, we always play as a team and focus on unlocking our own full potential.”
The Shopee Cup final represents a major opportunity for Selangor to secure regional silverware and reinforce their resurgence under Kim Pan-gon.
After an impressive run to the final, the Red Giants now stand just two matches away from lifting one of Southeast Asia’s most prestigious club trophies.
The first leg between Selangor and Buriram United is scheduled to kick off at 9pm local time on Wednesday, 20 May, at the MBPJ Stadium, Petaling Jaya.
Credit Photo : SFC
