Negeri Sembilan FC interim head coach K. Rajan acknowledged clear improvements in his team’s overall performance despite a frustrating late setback following their 3-3 draw against Penang FC in the Malaysia Super League at Stadium Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Paroi on 7 March.
Speaking during the post-match press conference after the Liga Super 2025/26 Matchday 20 encounter, Rajan praised the effort and attacking intent displayed by Negeri Sembilan FC, highlighting the team’s ability to create numerous chances throughout the match.
“Overall, we played a good game. We created a lot of chances, but we didn’t convert them,” Rajan said, noting that the team had shown significant improvement compared to the previous outing.
Positive Signs Despite Frustrating Ending
The interim head coach emphasised that while the result may feel disappointing, there were clear indicators of progress in the team’s performance.
According to Rajan, the players demonstrated better attacking structure and were able to generate several goal-scoring opportunities, suggesting that the team’s tactical adjustments and training work are beginning to take effect.
“You saw in the last two games, we improved a lot. We created many chances, but sometimes we couldn’t finish them,” he explained.
However, Rajan also admitted that defensive concentration in the closing stages remains a concern, especially after conceding a late goal that denied the home side a crucial victory.
Focus and Concentration Key for Final Minutes
Reflecting on the decisive moments late in the match, Rajan pointed to the importance of maintaining focus and mental discipline until the final whistle.
“For the last-minute goal, players must focus and concentrate until the last whistle,” he said. “At the end of the game, players are already tired, but concentration is very important.”
The coach added that such situations can sometimes be unpredictable, particularly when refereeing decisions or late challenges come into play, but maintaining defensive discipline remains essential.
Post-Match Review Planned
Looking ahead, Rajan confirmed that the coaching staff will conduct a detailed post-mortem with the players to analyse the match and identify areas that require improvement.
“Tomorrow we will do a post-mortem with the players. We will talk together and improve game by game,” he said.
While the late concession prevented Negeri Sembilan from securing all three points, Rajan remains optimistic about the team’s trajectory under his interim leadership, stressing that continuous improvement and hard work in training will be key as the Hobin Jang Hobin squad prepares for their upcoming fixtures.