Eastern coach Cristiano Cordeiro plays down Kitchee clash, just wants three points
Eastern coach Cristiano Cordeiro played down their BOCG Life Premier League match against champions Kitchee as they clash for the second time in a week at Mong Kok Stadium today.
Eastern coach Cristiano Cordeiro played down their BOCG Life Premier League match against champions Kitchee as they clash for the second time in a week at Mong Kok Stadium today.
Leading the table with 19 points, Eastern can extend their advantage in the league with a second win over the defending champions after overcoming Kitchee 3-2 in the Senior Shield final last Sunday.
"The three points are always important, but I would say a victory against any team no matter it is Kitchee, Tai Po or Wong Tai Sin will be equally important if we want to win the championship," said Cordeiro.
"Of course, it will be a strong morale-booster for the players if we can take three points from the defending champions but I am sure both teams still have chances in the league as it's not a do-or-die situation yet."
Cordeiro has a complete roster of players to choose from with no injuries to report. But he has also yet to decide if Miroslav Saric, who won the MVP honour in the Shield final after taking over the attacking midfield position from suspended Michel Lugo, will be able to keep his place and if their on-trial former English Premier League player Rohan Ricketts will get a chance in the starting line-up.
Kitchee, who are five points behind Eastern but have two games in hand, will have Helio Goncalves playing for the first time as a local player after fulfilling the seven-year residency rule. The towering centre-half will replace injured Tsang Chi-hau.
"We lost to them in the Senior Shield final and of course we don't want to lose them for the second time in a row," said captain Lo Kwan-yee.
