Fabio Capello advises Persib to change
JAKARTA (JP): Fabio Capello, the head coach of soccer giant AC Milan, advised Persib Bandung to make radical changes if the local team wants to raise its game to a higher level.
Despite the absence of superstars such as Dutchmen Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten AC Milan carried too much skill and speed for Persib Bandung which went down with a whimper 0-8 at the Senayan stadium on Saturday.
"Although I only observed briefly, it is clear that Persib has a lot of homework to do if it wants to become a better team," Capello said through an interpreter at a press-conference after the game.
"Most probably, every thing from the players' physical fitness, skills and team management must be changed," he said.
"It took us a lot of sacrifices to reach this level," he added.
The coach, however, praised Persib's midfielder Yudi Guntara, who wears no. 5, describing him as a "promising and talented player."
"I notice that he tried hard and put up a good fight, " he said.
AC Milan, often dubbed the "Dream Team", has won the European Champions title five-times and is considered the world's best professional soccer club to date.
Persib Bandung, the three time victor of the inter-city championship in Indonesia, had no illusions going into the match, hoping for nothing more than good experience from meeting the star-studded European team.
"We will be there to learn," said Ateng Wahyudi, the team's coach, before the match.
Throughout the friendly match Saturday, the soccer Goliaths played aggressively and beautifully, drawing constant admiring "ooohs" and "aaaahs" from the spectators.
Without any doubt, AC Milan lived up to its promise before the match that it would play seriously and show its class.
Capello was also active yelling orders to his charges from the side of the field for most of the game.
In comparison, Persib's officials remained stoically seated during the entire course of the annihilation.
"My boys played well despite the humidity and they scored eight spectacular goals," Capello said.
The coach, however, brushed aside any accusations that AC Milan was being unnecessarily ruthless to the extent that two of his players were flashed the yellow card.
"We always play aggressively and the card was given for two mild mistakes such as kicking the ball out of the field unnecessarily and pulling the opposition's shirt," he said.
He added that Persib was totally demoralized after its shaky defense was mercilessly penetrated eight times.
"It's hard for any team," he added.
Capello also expressed his satisfaction that his squad could maintain its spunk until the second-half of the game despite his initial concern.
"We have proved that, unlike Sampdoria, we can overcome all weather conditions," he said.
Sampdoria, another top Italian club, played in Indonesia last month to beat Indonesia's Liga Selection 3-2.
Meanwhile, Agum Gumelar, the chairman of the organizing committee - who is also the commander of Kopassus, the Army's elite unit - was satisfied that the match went smoothly without any untoward incidents.
"Unlike the Sampdoria event, we did not see any bottle- throwing activities," he said.
The chain-smoking one-star general said that about 1,500 military and police personnel were deployed to maintain order.
"It's better to leave some space at the stadium than welcoming hooligans," he said with a big smile. (hdj)