KUALA LUMPUR: Indra Putra Mahayuddin wants his teammates to keep their cool when goal-shy Kuala Lumpur face Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim in Cheras tomorrow.
The KL captain believes the city side’s struggle in front of goal is down to an inability in maintaining composure when presented with a chance to score.
KL created a number of opportunities in 2-0 defeats to Selangor and Negri Sembilan in their first two games but striker Guilherme De Paula has yet to find the back of the net after netting 30 goals last year.
“I think the reason we have not scored is that we are too eager to get a goal,” said Indra, who joined 2017 Premier League champions KL this season from Kelantan. “When you try so hard you sometimes lose direction.
“Everyone thinks the mistakes we have made are down to the individuals but for me we lose as a team and we win as a team. Everyone bears equal responsibility when we lose and we don’t blame any individual.
“I hope the players maintain their focus and give it their all against JDT, who we know are the strongest team in the country.
“We will try to do something because nothing is impossible in football. If we have the will to win then, God willing, we will be successful.”
JDT have six points from two matches after beating Kedah 2-1 and Perak SEDC 3-0, both at Larkin, but KL coach FabioMaciel believes the four-time league champions have a chink in their armour.
“We respect JDT, they are a big club, but in the AFC Champions League (5-2) defeat to Muangthong United they showed they have a weakness,” said Maciel.
“Here, teams give them too much room to play but when a club play an open game against JDT, they have a bit of a problem.”
Maciel, however, said bottom-side KL will not throw caution to the wind given the firepower the Johor club possess in Luciano Figueroa, Gonzalo Cabrera and Jorge Pereyra Diaz.
“It does not mean we will go all out and attack but I have quality local players here who can play in the JDT first XI, I’m sure of that,” said Maciel.
“But we need a bit of time to develop, we are just coming from the Premier League and teams don’t respect us yet.”
Winger Zaquan Adha Radzak could be in line to face his former club after returning to training following a foot injury.