National head coach Datuk K. Rajagopal insisted that he won’t take a defensive approach against English Premier League giants Arsenal at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil tomorrow.
Malaysia will use the friendly matches against Arsenal tomorrow and Liverpool on Saturday as their preparationa for the Asia Zone World Cup second round qualifier against Singapore on July 23.
“We are excited to play against Arsenal. They are good in their offence and you cannot play a defensive game against them,” said Rajagopal at a press conference to welcome the Gunners at the The Saujana Hotel in Subang yesterday.
“I want the boys to play their hearts out and provide an entertaining match for the crowd like what we did when we played Manchester United two years ago.
“I do not want the players to fear their much more famous opponents and to go all out during the match.”
Malaysian hotshot striker Mohd Safee Sali will have to sit out the clash against the Gunners but the other out-and-out strikers – Norsharul Idlan Talaha, Abdul Hadi Yahya and Ahmad Fakri Saarani – have recovered from their injuries and should be fielded.
Safee has yet to recover from a knee injury sustained during the first leg, first round Asia Zone World Cup qualifying match against Taiwan on June 29.
“It’s good that I have my strikers back fully fit. I have more options in my attack now except for Safee who would have to skip the match on Wednesday,” said Rajagopal.
“Goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat has also recovered from his shoulder injury and it is a boost for us ahead of the match against Singapore.”
Rajagopal’s more illustrious counterpart Arsene Wenger said that he had never seen the current Malaysian team play before and it would be new experience for him and his club.
“I have also not seen video clips of the Malaysian team. This is the second trip to Malaysia since our last visit in 1999. It is difficult for us to travel to Asia due to our tight pre-season schedule,” said the Frenchman.
Wenger was manager of the Arsenal team who beat Malaysia 2-0 in 1999 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil. Nicolas Anelka and Emmanuel Petit scored for the Gunners.
Wenger also revealed that he would not be buying a new player to replace leftback Gael Clichy who has left for Manchester City. Instead he intends to play Keiran Gibbs, new signing Carl Jenkinson or the versatile Thomas Vermaelen in Clichy’s place.
Malaysia will use the friendly matches against Arsenal tomorrow and Liverpool on Saturday as their preparationa for the Asia Zone World Cup second round qualifier against Singapore on July 23.
“We are excited to play against Arsenal. They are good in their offence and you cannot play a defensive game against them,” said Rajagopal at a press conference to welcome the Gunners at the The Saujana Hotel in Subang yesterday.
“I want the boys to play their hearts out and provide an entertaining match for the crowd like what we did when we played Manchester United two years ago.
“I do not want the players to fear their much more famous opponents and to go all out during the match.”
Malaysian hotshot striker Mohd Safee Sali will have to sit out the clash against the Gunners but the other out-and-out strikers – Norsharul Idlan Talaha, Abdul Hadi Yahya and Ahmad Fakri Saarani – have recovered from their injuries and should be fielded.
Safee has yet to recover from a knee injury sustained during the first leg, first round Asia Zone World Cup qualifying match against Taiwan on June 29.
“It’s good that I have my strikers back fully fit. I have more options in my attack now except for Safee who would have to skip the match on Wednesday,” said Rajagopal.
“Goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat has also recovered from his shoulder injury and it is a boost for us ahead of the match against Singapore.”
Rajagopal’s more illustrious counterpart Arsene Wenger said that he had never seen the current Malaysian team play before and it would be new experience for him and his club.
“I have also not seen video clips of the Malaysian team. This is the second trip to Malaysia since our last visit in 1999. It is difficult for us to travel to Asia due to our tight pre-season schedule,” said the Frenchman.
Wenger was manager of the Arsenal team who beat Malaysia 2-0 in 1999 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil. Nicolas Anelka and Emmanuel Petit scored for the Gunners.
Wenger also revealed that he would not be buying a new player to replace leftback Gael Clichy who has left for Manchester City. Instead he intends to play Keiran Gibbs, new signing Carl Jenkinson or the versatile Thomas Vermaelen in Clichy’s place.
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