KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor winger Faisal Halim admitted he needs more time to regain peak form, despite being in the starting 11 for the Sultan of Selangor's Cup (TSSC) at Merdeka Stadium yesterday.
Faisal said he did not play to his best level during the first 45 minutes of the 2-1 win over Singapore.
The national player had three shots on target during the game.
However, he felt it was still a positive development and served as a benchmark for him to reassess his ability on the field.
"I feel that the 45 minutes weren't reflective of my true game. Compared to my previous performances, I haven't reached my maximum yet, and I still need time to get back to my best.
"I hope everyone can give me the space to do that.
"But, at least I can now feel what's affecting me during the match. Although I fell and hurt my left hand, it's nothing serious.
"It's good progress for me, and I feel more confident now. I want to focus on regaining my fitness and strength," said Faisal, who captained Selangor to victory in the Sultan of Selangor's Cup.
Selangor walked away with the top prize of RM100,000 following their win over Singapore.
The 26-year-old said the victory was just the tonic the team needed ahead of the FA Cup final on Aug 24.
"We're in the FA Cup final, so there's no holding back. We'll give our best for the Selangor supporters," he said.
Selangor will face defending champions Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) in the FA Cup final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Faisal made his first public appearance in the FA Cup match against Negri Sembilan on June 16, following an acid attack that left him with fourth-degree burns on several parts of his body.
On May 5, Faisal was splashed with acid by an unknown individual at a shopping centre in Petaling Jaya and had to be treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for 10 days.