Prolific: JDT striker Bergson da Silva (right) has scored 102 goals for his team in all competitions in the last three seasons. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Top striker Bergson da Silva has declared that Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) fear no one and will go all out to return with three points against BG Pathum United in the AFC Champions League Group I match today.
Pathum United are one of the top five teams in the Thai League 1 but the Brazilian striker believes JDT will not be pushovers and are bent on rebounding from their narrow 0-1 defeat to Kawasaki Frontale in Iskandar Puteri on Sept 19.
JDT have been peerless in the domestic scene and have not lost a match since the 2022 season. They have already won the FA Cup and Super League and are favourites to secure the treble as they are still in the running in the Malaysia Cup which has reached the semi-finals stage.
However, Bergson feels the onus is on JDT to show what they are capable of and perform beyond the Malaysian shores.
“JDT have proven that they are on a different level and of course we want three points against Pathum. They play in a better league but we are JDT and fear no one,” said Bergson, who has scored 102 goals for JDT in all competitions in the last three seasons.
“We can press them like we did in the 2022 AFC Champions League where we managed to beat Ulsan Hyundai and we pressured Kawasaki in our first game although we lost (0-1).
“It doesn’t matter who scores, we will go all out and aim for victory against Pathum.”
JDT did well in the AFC Champions League last season by topping Group I which included Kawasaki, Ulsan and Guangzhou.
They managed to beat Ulsan 2-1 in both home and away matches while double victories over Guangzhou (5-0 at home and 2-0 away) and a 0-0 draw in Iskandar Puteri guided them to the last 16 stage.
Their only blemish in the group stage was a 5-0 hiding in the hands of Kawasaki but it did not hurt their progress as they topped the group to advance.
However, JDT found the going tough against Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds as they lost 5-0 in the last 16 stage.
JDT coach Esteban Solari has also called upon his players to make an impact in the tougher AFC Champions League and a positive outing against Pathum could start their push for more quality showing at the continental level.
