Kuala lumpur: Negeri Sembilan FC (NSFC) head coach Daniel Gimenez Alcaniz wants his players to quickly cultivate a winning mentality after they settled for a single point in a Super League draw against Star City FC (SCFC) at Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi yesterday.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Spaniard said the point was still valuable following defeats to Melaka FC and Kelantan City FC, but admitted the result was not what he had hoped for in his quest to build a winning team. "A draw is not enough. We need to show something better," he told reporters after the match, which saw NSFC forced to settle for a 2-2 draw against SCFC. The result leaves the team sixth in the standings with four points, while SCFC sit 11th with just one point.
Gimenez said the stark contrast in NSFC's performance between the first and second halves highlighted that the players' attitude and mentality require serious attention. "I don't understand how the same players, with the same quality, can produce two such different performances. Since day one, I've told them that everyone knows the basics of football, but what sets teams apart is attitude. Without the right attitude, we won't get anywhere," he emphasised.
He also expressed disappointment over NSFC conceding their second goal just one-and-a-half minutes into the second half, describing the manner in which it was conceded as unacceptable. However, he praised his substitutes for changing the momentum of the game, injecting energy and adding value to the side, which ultimately helped NSFC fight back from two goals down to salvage a point.
Meanwhile, Gimenez acknowledged that the FA Cup second-leg match against Kelantan City FC this Tuesday would be tough as Kelantan is not an easy opponent, but believed that home advantage and support from the fans could help his team bounce back. "Our target is to qualify. We will try to win the game and not give up. I know the players will be ready 100 per cent," he said.
Meanwhile, SCFC head coach Mehmet Durakovic admitted that the 2-2 draw against NSFC was difficult to accept after his team came close to securing their first three points of the season. "But overall, I thought it was a good performance by the players. We will go back, regroup, work and train hard before facing Kedah FA in the FA Cup (second-leg match) this Tuesday," he said.