Cooper eyes a winning start at Muangthong
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Muangthong United coach Scott Cooper is hoping to lead his new charges to victory in his first competitive game in charge of the Thai Premier League runners-up, against Vietnam's Hanoi T&T in the AFC Champions League play-off tie today.
Having briefly coached TPL champions Buriram United during their continental campaign last term, the 43-year-old Englishman will make his home debut in charge of Muangthong after his eyebrow-raising switch from their bitter rivals last month.
After last weekend’s 1-0 loss to “triple” winners Buriram in the King’s trophy match, a traditional curtain-raiser before the start of the domestic league competition, Cooper is hoping for better luck when the real business begins against the V-League champions in the one-off match at the SCG Stadium. The game kicks off at 7.30pm.
To reach the lucrative group phase of the continent’s elite club competition for the second successive year, Muangthong face a tougher route than last term when they clinched automatic qualification as the league champions. The three-time TPL champions this time need to move past the Vietnamese club before taking on Australia’s Melbourne Victory with the group stage berth at stake.
Cooper is banking on support from the club’s fans to help his side make the home advantage count against the Vietnamese team, who beat India’s Pune FC 3-0 away in the preliminary round.
“It’s my first match in charge of the team in front of our fans. I know well the atmosphere our supporters could create at home. The lads and I want to experience it again. So, I would like to see our fans turn up in huge numbers. The match is more than just a game between the two clubs. It’s about prestige of the two countries.”
The Englishman was in bullish mood about his team’s chances of making it through the next round in pursuit of a berth in the group stage.
“It’s normal that they came over here brimming with confidence after scoring impressive 3-0 away win against Pune. But, they will realise the difference in football standards between the Vietnam and Thai leagues. “I believe what would be the deciding factor is our own performance. If we stick to our game plan, play to the team’s standard, without taking anything for granted, I’m sure we’ll get through,” said Cooper.
