Filipino booters ready to throw everything but the kitchen sink at Mitsubishi Electric Cup defending champions Thailand.
The Philippine men’s national football team (PMNFT) isn’t about to settle for their Leg 1 stunner against Thailand as they target a spot in the Mitsubishi Electric Cup finals on Monday, December 30.
Going up against the defending champions in Bangkok for their last game of the year, the Filipino booters are going for the improbable, riding the momentum of their 2-1 win at Rizal Memorial last week.
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Head coach Albert Capellas, who has the chance to lead the Philippines to its first final in the ASEAN Championship, said that they are looking to do more of what they did in the first half of the Leg 1 win.
Knowing that they can do more than just a one-game wonder, Capellas is eager to be a pest on the Thais side.
“For me, I like much more the way we played the first half than the second half. I think the second half, Thailand improved their performance and we couldn’t reach our high level. I think, it will be a very equal 200 minutes… We have to perform good,” said Capellas.
“If we want to have a chance to go to the final. We know that we can make it difficult for Thailand… we have made some adjustments and to try to come here and make a good performance for our fans, for our federation, for the players to prove ourselves that we are making steps forward. We will try to reach the finals for sure,” he added.
The Philippines has yet to win a football trophy at any level in the men’s side, with only the women’s 2022 AFF Women’s Championship title among the national teams’ achievements. But with the aggregate score on their side heading into the away game, the PMNFT hope to give themselves a chance.
For the Spanish manager, he’ll be leaning on his players to keep the momentum going and hold on to the belief that they can reach the final, especially after going through a difficult stretch in the group stage.
“I love the attitude of my players. They believe they make big improvements within themselves. That for me is our strength, and of course to convince them that they can make it, said Capellas.
The PMNFT face off against Thailand at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok at 9 p.m., Manila time.
Vietnam is awaiting the winner of the semifinals between the Philippines and Thailand in the championship match.
The final will also be two legs on January 2 and January 5 next year.