Dibuat oleh Admin. Pada 06 March 2024 - 01:52
SM Pertamina is still able to maintain its unbeaten record at the Pertamina Arena after beating Bali United (BU) on Sunday 3 March. As we previously know, Manuel Pena's team also knocked out Bima Perkasa in the same place.
However, this euphoria must be quickly forgotten because of the fact that SM Pertamina will compete again this week against Rajawali Medan and Prawira Bandung. SM Pertamina itself must be alert because the two teams are currently in a positive trend. Rajawali Medan just beat Rans and Prawira are unbeaten since replacing their three foreign players.
Apart from that, of course the factor of Brandone Francis' return must be a special concern because even though he hasn't joined for long, the player from the Dominican Republic has already shown his dominance by being the top scorer in the last two Prawira Bandung matches.
Coach Manu, when met during routine training today, said that he was very aware of this, which is why he instructed his players to focus match by match.
"They are two equally great teams, that's why I don't think about Prawira above Rajawali, but I think about both and of course I want to win and continue the positive trend that we have built at the moment. "Then another important point is that we have to continue to develop both as a team and individually every day," said the man from Spain.
When asked about his decision to use five local players in the last 4 minutes against Bima Perkasa, Manu explained that he really wanted all players to be ready whenever needed, both local and foreign, because that was what SM Pertamina needed as a complete team.
"Actually, I don't really care about the age and country of origin of our players, because I will only field players who have high motivation to play and suit the system we are working on on the field. And maybe at that time a system with five local players was the right one to continue to maintain our advantage over BPJ. "It has been proven that we are capable of winning and I am happy because they were able to accept the challenge," he continued.
Meanwhile, there is no certainty about Arki Dikania Wisnu's absence from the two matches this week, this is because further examination of the tear on his chin will continue today and tomorrow.
"Yesterday, when it was torn, I immediately took action to have it stitched immediately to minimize the widening of the wound. "But it's not certain how long he will be absent and our focus right now is so that Arki can return to the field as soon as possible," said SM Pertamina Physiotherapy Amriansyah this afternoon.
SM itself will continue its journey in the IBL this season by facing Rajawali Medan on Saturday (9/3) and Prawira on (10/3).
