World Cup 2022: Hong Kong fans called on to get behind team against Bahrain by coach Mixu Paatelainen

Hong Kong football head coach Mixu Paatelainen has called on the supporters to get behind the team when they meet Bahrain in their Fifa 2022 World Cup qualifying game on Thursday. “I hope so. Absolutely. I think Hong Kong people deserve this,” he said. “Our fans are brilliant. Tremendous. Last time when we played Iran here they were absolutely superb. Fantastic support. Hopefully they support the boys again because players need that, a good atmosphere. “Against Iran it was magnificent. I really appreciate the supporters’ effort and hopefully they come and support the players again. “This situation we’re in the moment, now that is very difficult for us, because we have a very difficult draw and we are not performing anywhere near as well as we should and could. We will. We will get there.” “Hopefully we can bring our supporters good moments, happy moments and reason for joy.” That was echoed by Giovane da Silva who has been called up for the crucial home games against Bahrain and Cambodia. “In my opinion Hong Kong fans deserve a good performance. So that’s why I am going to work hard in these two matches to show them the team spirit, to show them we love Hong Kong and we love football. I’m very excited. Da Silva also knows why he has been called up. “Hong Kong need goals and I’ll work for that,” the 2015 Hong Kong Footballer of the Year said, as he looks forward to a third Hong Kong cap. Paatelainen has called up the R&F striker for the first time since he took over from Gary White in April. “Gio has always been in my mind. I’ve always known he’s a goalscorer. Last weekend, two goals. Very important goals. Before I wanted to see other players and now Gio comes in. I’m pleased to work with him, I’m pleased to see him in our training sessions.” Not everyone has been on show in training, the Finn said, which is a problem. “Obviously we want to try and do as well as we can. Nothing changes. I know it will be tough for us. Especially when we are not able to prepare as well as we would like to because of the time, quite a lot of players played Sunday and from the weekend there’s quite a lot of injuries. Paatelainen explained that he had to leave players out because of injuries and the ones he did include are still recovering from their most recent games. “Altogether nine injuries and knocks, so it’s quite worrying. So that’s why there were some changes to the squad as well. I will not go into names,” he said. “Obviously today some players could not train because of this so it is quite difficult for us. The first match in the World Cup qualifiers is always on Thursday and then players play on Sunday, they can’t play Monday, they must have recovery before Thursday. “Wednesday is official training, you can’t really train properly there. That leaves us one day of proper training, one day. Everyone knows this is not ideal preparation. The lack of time is unbelievable and it is because we play matches the previous weekend. “Some countries don’t play matches, some countries give the national team time to prepare properly and make sure the coach has a chance to influence the team. “It is quite difficult but we do our best. The boys, the players, fantastic. Their attitude is tremendous. First class. We want to spend time on the training ground with this team and improve and train and drum it in, the information that we want to give. That’s the only way to develop, that’s the only way to get better. If we only train once every time we play, basically, it’s a long road.” Paatelainen is keeping his options open as he knows it is a tough task against the second-placed team in the group. “You always have injuries. It’s part and parcel of the game. But now we have so many. I know the players want to be here, they want to do their best for the jersey, for Hong Kong,” he said. “So we’ll probably give players to the last minute possible to prove their fitness and to be there. That affects the training. It’s probably the case that we won’t be able to train with the team that starts the match.” The visitors to Hong Kong Stadium are unbeaten in the qualifying campaign so far and have the result of the group in beating group favourites Iran 1-0 in the last game. They sit second in the group between Iraq and Iran. Bahrain beats Iran 1-0 in World Cup and Asian Cup joint qualification match. Congratulations to Bahrain! pic.twitter.com/sZ7S9zPiah — Mohammed Khalid Alyahya (@7yhy) October 15, 2019 “I’m not surprised they beat Iran because they were the better team when they played Iraq. Bahrain is a very strong team, a very fast team and tactically good. It will be a big test for us. “Very similar to Iraq and Iran. All the matches between those three countries are going to be very tight. They can go either way.” Hong Kong will need things to go their way on Thursday night if they are add to their solitary point so far.