Jackson Acknowledges Tough Yahya Daarul Takzim Visit but Hopes Buriram Delivers Strong Performance in Malaysia

Buriram United manager Mark Jackson admitted that the trip to face Johor Darul Takzim won't be straightforward in this AFC Champions League Cup playoff, but he's hopeful his team can deliver good results. The Shopee Cup 2025-26 semi-final first leg sees Buriram United traveling to face Johor Darul Takzim on May 6 at 7:00 PM at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Malaysia. At a pre-match press conference on Tuesday, May 5, Jackson and assistant Kenneth Dugall addressed the media.

Jackson stated: "We know this match will be difficult. We have to play in a tough environment, but we're ready and looking forward to it. We've had success in the league this season and hope to continue that momentum and perform well. That's why tomorrow's match is exciting for us."

He continued: "We won the league championship previously, which is why the last two games required adjustments to get our best squad for this match. This competition is decided over two legs, and while we have the advantage of playing away first, we must stay focused and deliver the performance we want."

Jackson added: "I believe we've started well and have a strong team. We're prepared for this match and remain focused on details today. We want good results like in every game. We're confident in our team's ability to play attacking football and will press our opponents. We respect Johor as they play at home with their supporters behind them, and I hope our fans will provide full support. We look forward to playing an intense match and showing our best performance."

Regarding team selection, Jackson noted: "All our players are ready. We always respect our opponents and have done our homework on them. I can't say who will start because this is a competitive match. We don't focus on individual players but the overall picture and the opponent's style. We're very well prepared."

He explained: "Our team isn't at full strength right now. Some players aren't ready for this match, but they're still part of the team and we hope to protect the result to compete in the second leg. That's our goal. In the last two matches, we rotated players, giving some rest. Those players are now ready to return tomorrow, which is positive. While we had some poor results recently, we're looking at the bigger picture. We've rested some players to bring them back at full fitness. I think the team is ready for this match and we're excited about it, including having the option to field the team as we wish."

Assistant Kenneth Dugall commented: "As you know, we were successful playing here last season and produced excellent results. We've faced Johor Darul Takzim four times in the last two seasons and won twice. So meeting them in the Shopee Cup is very important. Our goal tomorrow is to win and advance in the competition. We'll do our best in tomorrow's match."