Football
ESPN staff 6y

Relegated Felda United guard against complacency, aim to win Malaysia Cup

Head coach B. Satianathan has warned against complacency as demoted Felda United look to return to the Malaysia Super League (MSL) at the first attempt, and win a cup competition in 2018 from the second tier.

Felda's failure to obtain a licence for the MSL was down to auditing issues, but the team who finished third in the MSL this year should still have more than enough quality to earn promotion from the Malaysian Premier League (MPL) in 2018.

Satianathan is convinced that he has the right players for the job, but has cautioned against over-confidence in the second tier.

Nevertheless, the former Malaysia head coach has set his sights high, insisting that he is not only aiming for promotion, but also some silverware.

"The players have to remember that even though Felda are playing in the Premier League, they have the quality of a Super League team," Satianathan told the New Straits Times.

"Felda United were demoted based on technicalities, not on poor results. So, the players have to maintain the Super League spirit in them and play like they are in the main league, even though the truth is they are in the Premier League.

"I'm worried they will take it easy because they will assume the other teams are not on par with Felda United. If the players think like that, they will suffer the consequences. 

"It will also affect our mission which is to get back to the Super League in 2019. I envision Felda to play in the Premier League for only one season.

"Felda United's aim next season is to win the Premier League and we want to win at least one trophy, either the FA Cup or the Malaysia Cup."

Felda saw at first hand how a team from the MPL could play when the faced PKNP FC in this year's Malaysia Cup quarterfinal. After losing the first leg 3-1, Felda bounced back to win the second leg 4-1 and edge into the last four.

But it was a clear indication that the Fighters will not get things all their own way in 2018.

"That game should be a lesson learnt for all players to not underestimate the Premier League teams' abilities," B. Satianathan said. "Don't think that the teams aren't capable of playing football."

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