Jackson smiles as Buriram United claim opening leg advantage in AFC Club Championship pursuit

Mark Jackson, head coach of Buriram United, praised his team's performance after securing a 1-0 away victory over Malaysia's Selangor FC in the opening leg of the AFC Club Championship SHOPEE CUP 2025/26 final. The team holds the advantage before returning to Chang Arena on May 27 for the decisive second leg.

Jackson expressed satisfaction with the away result, acknowledging the difficulty of facing a quality opponent. "I'm very pleased with how the team performed, especially in the second half. Everyone fought hard, never gave up, and gave their all," Jackson stated. "I'm proud of how they closed out the game today, but I reminded them we still have another match to play that requires even greater commitment and preparation."

The coach emphasized his approach remains unchanged, with all players dedicating themselves to the club. He noted the team faces a demanding schedule, including a 120-minute match against Johor Darul Ta'zim and the Thai FA Cup semi-final on Sunday. Despite signs of fatigue in the second half, Jackson praised his players' character and unity, particularly their defensive resilience under pressure.

Jackson expressed confidence that a week's recovery before the second leg would prove beneficial, a luxury the team hasn't enjoyed recently. "The second leg will be different. Getting a good away result gives us added confidence heading into our home match," he said. "I have confidence in this squad and our ability to win matches."

The return of midfielder Guilherme Bissoli was welcomed by Jackson as a significant boost to the team. He also praised attacker Supphannuth Muenmatee as a dangerous player who made a difference today, though showing some fatigue late in the match. Jackson stressed the importance of monitoring injuries while noting that the players who came on as replacements performed well.

The second leg of the final will be played at Chang Arena on May 27 at 19:00.