Munoz praises JDT's fighting spirit despite ACLE exit

Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) may have exited the AFC Champions Elite (ACLE) at the quarter-final stage, but head coach Xisco Munoz expressed satisfaction with his team's performance against defending champions Al-Ahli. The Malaysian side put up a strong fight, pushing the Saudi Arabian club to their limits in a 2-1 defeat at the King Abdullah Sports City.

“

Thank you to the players who sweated to compete against the defending champions and we were not lucky to get a positive result.

Munoz acknowledged the difference in quality, particularly in attack, where Al-Ahli proved more clinical despite JDT's early lead through an own goal. "The opposing team had more quality than us, especially in attack, where they could score goals when we found it difficult to create chances," he stated. However, he also highlighted the valuable experience gained, which he believes will be crucial for the team's development in the future.

“

Whatever it is, it gives us the best experience to further improve the quality of our game in the future, and I want to congratulate Al-Ahli for winning the match.

Despite the disappointment of not advancing, Munoz emphasized that this defeat is not the end for the Southern Tigers. Instead, he sees it as a catalyst for growth. "This valuable experience will help the team become more mature and competitive in the coming season," he remarked. The team's journey in the ACLE, while ending in the quarter-finals, has provided a platform for learning and improvement, underscoring JDT's ambition to compete at the highest level of Asian club football.

“

This is football; the opposing team has more quality than us, especially in attack, where they can score goals when we find it difficult to create chances, even though we had several opportunities in the last 10 minutes of the second half.