Ong Kim Swee is not conceding defeat before Malaysia kick off their 2018 AFC U-23 Championship campaign against Iraq.
The young Tigers will face Iraq, who won the tournament in 2013 and finished third in 2016, in their opening Group C match at the Changshu Stadium in China on Wednesday.
Although the Malaysian U-23 head coach admitted Abdul Ghani Shahad’s boys are strong, he insisted it is not impossible for his side to spring a surprise.
"We cannot deny that Iraq are a very good team based on their records in AFC tournaments at youth and senior levels, but for us, it is [tomorrow’s] game that we are looking at," said Ong during a pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
"The players know and are aware of how good Iraq are, but at the same time, we are not going to play like how we have normally had.
"We will do whatever necessary to compete with Iraq, and with the right tactical approach and discipline, we might get a good result."
After their match against Iraq, Malaysia will take on Jordan (January 13) and Saudi Arabia (January 16), and Ong was satisfied with his team’s overall preparation.
"It has been a good preparation for us. Even though it is Malaysia’s first AFC U-23 Championship, I believe this will mark a good beginning for Malaysian football," he said.
"It is not an easy tournament, but I believe it will give us a very good experience.
"I hope we will learn a lot and come away with surprise results."
The young Tigers will face Iraq, who won the tournament in 2013 and finished third in 2016, in their opening Group C match at the Changshu Stadium in China on Wednesday.
Although the Malaysian U-23 head coach admitted Abdul Ghani Shahad’s boys are strong, he insisted it is not impossible for his side to spring a surprise.
"We cannot deny that Iraq are a very good team based on their records in AFC tournaments at youth and senior levels, but for us, it is [tomorrow’s] game that we are looking at," said Ong during a pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
"The players know and are aware of how good Iraq are, but at the same time, we are not going to play like how we have normally had.
"We will do whatever necessary to compete with Iraq, and with the right tactical approach and discipline, we might get a good result."
After their match against Iraq, Malaysia will take on Jordan (January 13) and Saudi Arabia (January 16), and Ong was satisfied with his team’s overall preparation.
"It has been a good preparation for us. Even though it is Malaysia’s first AFC U-23 Championship, I believe this will mark a good beginning for Malaysian football," he said.
"It is not an easy tournament, but I believe it will give us a very good experience.
"I hope we will learn a lot and come away with surprise results."
