Selangor FC head into Wednesday’s crucial Shopee Cup 2025/26 clash against BG Pathum United FC sitting pretty at the top of Group A. The mission is simple: avoid defeat at the MBPJ Stadium, and Selangor’s ticket to the semi-finals is officially punched.
Despite the high stakes, Kim Pan-gon isn’t hiding from reality. Coming off a grueling domestic schedule and a high-intensity 2-0 win over Công An Hà Nội FC—where Faisal Halim stole the show with a brace—the squad is feeling the burn.
“We all know how crucial this game is for our club, for our Red Giants supporters, for Selangor, and also for Malaysian football,” the former Ulsan HD mastermind stated.
“Physically, the players are still tired due to a tough schedule, but this cannot disturb us. I believe the players’ passion and desire are stronger than the tiredness. I am confident they can overcome this difficult situation.”
While a draw is enough to progress, Pan-gon has no intention of playing for a stalemate. He is acutely aware that BG Pathum United—currently second in the group—possess the technical quality to punish any complacency.
“BG Pathum United are one of the stronger teams in this region and deserve our full respect. They are very well organised and have a high level of technical quality. It will be a tough challenge,” he warned.
Rather than obsessing over the opposition, Pan-gon is doubling down on the “Selangor Way.” The 56-year-old tactician emphasized that the Red Giants will look to dictate the tempo and play on the front foot, regardless of the physical toll.
“We have studied their strengths, but at the same time we will focus on using our own strengths. We are building our identity and our DNA as a team. We will not step back tomorrow — we want to show our Red Giants what our strengths are and make them proud.”
Credit Photo : SFC
