Bangkok United head coach Totchtawan Sripan and Brazilian defender Philip Maia expressed confidence ahead of their opening AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 Group Stage match against Selangor FC tomorrow.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Coach Ban acknowledged the challenge of facing one of Malaysia’s strongest clubs but emphasized that his team had prepared extensively.
“This is our first time playing in Malaysia, and we’ve analyzed Selangor’s style of play carefully. They have many Malaysian internationals, strong foreign players, and are one of the top teams in Malaysia.
We’re ready to face them. Yes, we need to adjust to the larger pitch, which is a bit different from our usual playing environment, but over the past two to three days we’ve worked on adapting. Our goal is clear: we want to come here and take all three points back to Thailand,” he said.
The former Thai international also praised the overall development of ASEAN football, noting the rising standards of Malaysian teams.
“Malaysian players are technically skilled and not much different from Thai players. In recent years, both their league and national team have improved significantly in terms of structure and playing style. Selangor, in particular, have grown stronger since playing in the ACL last year. This match will be a good battle and an entertaining one for the fans.”
Meanwhile, defender Philip Maia addressed the challenge of facing his fellow Brazilian, Chrigor Moraes, who has been in fine form for Selangor.
“Brazilian players are everywhere in world football, so it’s not unusual to face one another abroad. But we’ve studied Selangor thoroughly – both with and without the ball – and the coaching staff have prepared us with a clear tactical plan. We’re ready for this challenge.”
The highly anticipated ACL Two Group B opener will take place on Thursday, 18 September 2025, at MBPJ Stadium, Petaling Jaya, with kick-off scheduled for 6:00 PM local time
Credit Photo : BUFC
