KUALA LUMPUR: The Southern Tigers were rather quiet on the eve of the FA Cup final. They didn't say much and their pre-match press conference on Friday lasted only two minutes.
The Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, had also then posted "No comment" on X.
So, Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) saved their words for the field, and they exploded with a resounding 6-1 victory over Selangor at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
The pre-match talks by pundits and fans were all about how the FA Cup final was going to be closely contested. Well, some did say JDT had the edge.
Nothing of that sort happened. JDT buried the Red Giants under half a dozen goals instead in front of 80,350 fans who least expected to see so many goals.
It says one thing. JDT are pulling far far ahead of their M-League rivals, even against traditionally strong teams like Selangor.
That is because JDT do not rest on their laurels all these years — even after winning 10 consecutive league titles. They never stop working to improve themselves.
The others in the league settle for "above average"; JDT seek excellence and keep raising the bar.
JDT head coach Hector Bidoglio said their team's focus is always on improvement.
Responding to questions about their quiet pre-match demeanour, the Venezuelan said JDT's focus was on performance rather than pre-match theatrics.
"Each week, we aim to become faster, more dynamic and more intense. Our goal is to outpace our rivals, which requires a distinct technique and improved intensity, both with and without the ball.
"We need to play compactly, quickly assess why we might hold the ball longer, and efficiently regain our shape. It's challenging on an open pitch with limited space.
"If we had 10 more minutes, we might have scored even more. JDT's physical strength and intensity were evident, and I'm pleased with the players' performance, which we will continue to build on," said Bidoglio.
At the other end, Selangor coach Nidzam Jamil said: "We realised that against a seasoned team like JDT, even minor mistakes can be costly.
"We need to elevate our game to their level and beyond, and consistently perform well in finals."
"Against a team of JDT's quality, failing to focus can lead to a much larger defeat. I take full responsibility for this," said Nidzam.
Saturday's final saw a hat-trick by Spanish midfielder Juan Muniz (26th, 67th and 90th minutes) and a goal each from Arif Aiman Hanapi (42nd), Bergson Da Silva (62nd) and Heberty Fernandes (76th). Selangor's sole goal came from Alvin Fortes in the 59th.
JDT are becoming habitual serial winners. The 10-time consecutive Super League champions have now won the FA Cup for the third year in a row.