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LionsXII are favourites in Q-finals clash: ATM coach

ALOR SETAR — His team may have sent the LionsXII crashing out of the Malaysia Cup semi-finals last season, but this time round, Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) coach B Sathianathan has described V Sundramoorthy’s men as the favourites when the two sides meet in the quarter-finals of this year’s competition.

ALOR SETAR — His team may have sent the LionsXII crashing out of the Malaysia Cup semi-finals last season, but this time round, Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) coach B Sathianathan has described V Sundramoorthy’s men as the favourites when the two sides meet in the quarter-finals of this year’s competition.

This is despite ATM finishing top of Group A to earn the clash with the LionsXII, who came in second in Group D after beating Kedah 3-1 at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar on Saturday.

Some may say that Sathianathan is indulging in mind games, but the former Malaysia coach denied this, insisting that he was astounded by the way the Singapore side had rebounded after their poor start in the group stages.

The LionsXII were last in their group after losing two and drawing one of their first three games. But they then won their remaining matches to clinch their ticket to the last eight.

“They started poorly in the competition, but when I saw them on Saturday night (against Kedah), they looked a completely different team,” he told TODAY.

“The confidence is there and it’s obvious they are back in form again.”

And even though ATM beat the LionsXII on penalties in last year’s semi-finals, a result which Sundram has since described as the worst in his coaching career, Sathianathan does not believe that the shock triumph gives his team, who were then in the second-tier Malaysian Premier League, a psychological edge going into the two-legged quarter-finals.

Pointing to ATM’s sixth-place finish in the Malaysian Super League this season with 10 wins, four draws and eight losses, Sathianathan said: “Last year was different. This year’s team has not been better than last year’s because of injuries to players.

“Since Day One, we never had a settled starting 11 because of injuries and that was why we didn’t do well in the MSL. The LionsXII, on the other hand, were always consistent and this was why they went on to become league champions.”

It doesn’t help matters that ATM will be playing the first leg of the quarter-finals at Jalan Besar on Thursday.

“We lost 3-1 there this season, and I will be without three key players because of injuries,” said Sathianathan, referring to skipper K Rueben, defender Irwan Fadli and midfielder Amirizwan Taj Tajuddin.

“Jalan Besar’s artificial turf is another problem. We’ve played there twice and we are still not comfortable, whereas the LionsXII are more adventurous at home and they know how to defend on their travels. It’s going to be really tough for us.”

DAN GUEN CHIN

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