Reports of coach's exit just mind games: Muangthong
Distracted by what the club claims is a "made-up" report about coach Scott Cooper's future with the team, three-time Thai Premier League champions Muangthong United must refocus on their bid to reach the AFC Champions League group stage against Austral
Rather than focusing on the effort to clinch a second successive appearance in the continent’s premier club competition, Muangthong had to spend time on the eve of the game denying a report by Australian media that the one-off play-off tie against the A-League outfit would be the Englishman’s last game in charge of the Thai club.
A video clip posted on the website of Thailand’s daily sport newspaper, siamsport.co.th, showed Cooper explaining the situation to Muangthong players at a team meeting at their hotel in Melbourne.
“I’m trying to get this newspaper sued. It’s a local newspaper and they’re trying to help their team. We live in the time of Internet and the story is spreading quickly. That’s all you need to know.
“There’s no way in any conversation I would say to anyone else that I would resign after the game or it’s my last game in charge.
Sometimes, you face this kind of event before an important game like a Champions League match, as they’re trying to disrupt the other side,” the 43-year-old Cooper said.
Muangthong vice president Wiluck Lohthong also confirmed that the Englishman, who was only appointed as the club’s new coach last month, would stay at the club, which finished runners-up in the league last season.
“We have talked with him already and he said he didn’t give any interview to the Australian press as reported.
“His contract will run out at the end of the year so he will remain our coach not only for the Melbourne match but also for our campaign in the league and the other two domestic cup competitions,” said Wiluck.
At stake in today’s clash at Kardinia Park Stadium is a spot in Group G alongside reigning champions Guangzhou Evergrande, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Yokohama Marinos But Muangthong will have to make do without first-choice defender Ri Kwang Chon, after the North Korean was denied an Australian visa, and without the suspended Atit Daosawang.
Chonburi FC, the other Thai side fighting for a place in the competition through the play-offs, are also in action today. They play China’s Beijing Guoan at the Workers Stadium in the Chinese capital for a berth in Group F.
