Park Tae-ha “We're Wary of JDT Threat but are ready”
Pohang Steelers head coach Park Tae-ha says his players have done their homework on Johor Darul Ta'zim, but he made clear the Malaysian champions deserve the utmost respect when the sides meet in the second round of the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 League Stage (East Zone) on Tuesday.
Pohang have not yet found their rhythm in the 2026/27 competition. They went down 3-1 to Beijing Guoan in their league-stage opener, and domestic form has been just as uneven. A 2-1 win over FC Seoul before the international break ended a run of four games without a victory, but the Steelers were beaten 3-0 at Incheon United on Friday.
The heavy defeat leaves Pohang with plenty to put right in both the K League table and in Asia.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Park said familiarity gives his team an edge. Pohang faced Johor last year, and JDT beat them 5-2 in Malaysia in February 2025.
“We played Johor last year, so we know well what strategy they have and what kind of game they play,” Park said. “Since it is a home match, we will give our best to get a good result.”
Johor have not lost a league match since 2021, and their unbeaten run now stands at 113 games. Park said he was not aware of the record, though he knows the club dominates in Malaysia. In his view, this is the same team he saw last year.
“They are a team built around foreign players, so there are many experienced and capable players and we have to be wary,” he said. “They are a high-level side in everything, including speed, tempo and technique.”
Park said Pohang had studied their own strengths for a home game and spoken at length with the players about how to cope if Johor press hard. “The preparation time is short, but we will challenge them with everything we have,” he said.
Asked what message he gave his squad after the Incheon defeat, Park did not make excuses.
“We got a poor result away from home. These situations happen, but the players and I were both underprepared, and I don't think we showed the fans a performance they could be satisfied with,” he said.
“It's in the past. If you fall, the most important thing is to shake it off and get back up. The main message was that the players should not lose courage and should recover mentally as quickly as possible and focus on tomorrow's match.”
Pohang's Kim Dong-jin, who joined Park at the press conference, called Johor the best team in Malaysia, with clear attacking strengths, individual quality and several players with big-league experience.
“But the manager has prepared us well, so as players we have to stay focused on the game,” Kim said. “If we show what we've prepared on the pitch, good results will follow.”
Kim also spoke about returning to Pohang Steelyard. Stadium works and other circumstances forced Pohang to play many of their home matches in Sangju this season.
“Whenever we played at the Steelyard, lots of fans came to support us and it felt like a real home game,” he said. “We always wanted to come back. The players are curious about things like the state of the pitch, but we are preparing for tomorrow's game with a positive mindset.”
Credit Photo : Pohang Steelers
