Vissel Kobe head coach, Michael Skibbe, was a picture of class following his side’s 1-0 defeat at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, flatly rejecting the idea that his rotated squad was the reason for the loss.
While the J-League giants left several “big guns” back in Japan, Skibbe insisted that the result was down to the sheer quality of Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), who he claimed played with a tactical maturity that kept his side on the back foot for 95 minutes.
Skibbe was quick to credit Xisco Muñoz’s men for their relentless pressure and lightning-fast transitions. Despite Vissel Kobe’s reputation for technical dominance, the German tactician admitted that JDT’s movement was “dangerously inviting” and constantly sliced through his defensive lines.
“I don’t want to make excuses about missing players. JDT played very well. In fact, we were lucky that two of their goals were disallowed. They punished us for a small mistake at the end, and that is the level of this competition.” — Michael Skibbe
Despite the loss, Vissel Kobe’s place in the Round of 16 remains secure. For Skibbe, the “Magic Night” in Johor served as a vital wake-up call for his squad depth. He praised the inten
Credit Photo : AFC
