La Liga side Almeria striker Teerasil Dangda will start against Thai Premier League club SCG Muang Thong United in a friendly at SCG Stadium tonight.
From left, Almeria’s Teerasil Dangda, captain Corona and coach Francisco Rodriguez, and Muang Thong coach Dragan Talagic and captain Datsakorn Thonglao. THANARAK KHOONTON
The 26-year-old is on loan to the Spanish team for one year from Muang Thong starting this month.
Almeria coach Francisco Rodriguez told yesterday’s press conference that Teerasil would be in the starting line-up in the friendly which is part of the LFP World Challenge Tour.
“It is the first time that we are here in Asia for our pre-season. We will surely use Teerasil in the starting line-up. He will be happy to play against his club. He has done well in training and we believe he will be our main player in the upcoming season,’’ Rodriguez said.
“Muang Thong are a big team and it will not be easy to play against a big team at their home. But we will do our best.’’
Teerasil said: “It will be an amazing feeling for me to play against Muang Thong. If I score, I will not celebrate.
“I am trying to adapt to life and football in Spain on and off the pitch. I will try to do my best and if I fail I have to accept it.
“I don’t feel any pressure at Almeria. I want to play football in Spain and I hope I get a chance to play.’’
Almería captain Corona said: “We are very flattered for the love the fans here have shown us. We know that we are ambassadors for the Liga BBVA [La Liga] in Thailand and we want the Thai people to be left with a sensation of what the Liga BBVA and Almería are about.
“It is good that the Liga BBVA is becoming more well known and is gaining more fans around the world”.
Muang Thong coach Dragan Talajic said his team would try to win although they had a number of injured players.
“Although it is only a friendly, we want to show them that we have a lot of good Thai players who could join a Spanish team,’’ he said.
The Croatian coach has been under fire after only a few weeks at Muang Thong United. The Kirins have suffered two consecutive losses and dropped to fourth in the TPL. Almeria will take on League One side Phuket FC on Aug 3.
Tonight’s match kicks off at 7pm and will be shown live on True Sport HD 2. Tickets starting from 200 baht are available at the stadium.
Meanwhile, Guangzhou Evergrande have looked far from convincing in their AFC Champions League title defence but coach Marcello Lippi believes they can beat Western Sydney Wanderers in the quarter-finals and go on to reach the final.
Under the World Cup-winning Italian coach, Guangzhou enjoyed a stellar 2013 when they became the first Chinese team to be crowned continental champions in 23 years, while completing a hat-trick of Super League titles on the domestic front.
They are still in the reckoning to become the fifth side to win back-to-back continental titles but defeats against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Cerezo Osaka and Melbourne Victory have come as stark reminders of their frailties. Bangkok Post/REUTERS