Tumbakovic unsatisfied despite great victory
By Roy Wang (chinadaily.com.cn)Updated: 2007-04-12 16:35
China's Shandong Luneng players celebrate a goal against
Vietnam's Dong Tam Long An during their AFC Champions League game in Jinan, east
China's Shandong Province April 11. Shandong trounced Long An 4-0 in its third
winning streak, topping the Group G with 9 points.[Newsphoto]
Shandong Luneng's coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic was less than satisfied with his team's performance despite trouncing Vietnam's Dong Tam Long An 4-0 during their AFC Champions League game in Jinan, East China's Shandong Province on Wednesday evening.
"The players didn't play at their normal level, and they didn't stick to my strategy," Tumbakovic said. "I asked them to control the ball and put constant pressure on the opponent but obviously they didn't do that well."
"If we play against the two stronger teams in the group in the same manner, we will pay the price for that," he added.
Shandong Luneng, last year's Chinese league and FA cup winners, have made three straight wins with nine points to lead Group G at the AFC Champions League, while their two biggest rivals Adelaide United and Seongnam Chunma followed with four, four respectively after a 2-2 draw in Australia on the same day.
Tumbakovic continued to serve a six-game off-pitch ban on Wednesday
while his Chinese assistant Ma Baogang directed the game.
"I think three
points are much more important than a goal feast," said Ma after the match,
"Long An is a well-orgainzed team and the No. 1 in their country, and we knew it
wouldn't be an easy ride."
"The players controlled the ball more and ran more in the second half after being told to play more aggressively," Ma added, "They lived up to coaches' and fans' expectations after the interval."
| 1 | 2 |  |
|
||
|
||
|
|