執柒佢啦
2024-11-14 09:44:05
Ashley Westwood said he would continue pushing local football bosses to “make as many improvements as possible”, as he claimed recently-installed assistant boss Matt Holland was “an improvement on what [Hong Kong] had before I got here”.
Head coach Westwood is set for his third match in charge when Hong Kong face the Philippines on Thursday night. In his opening two games last month, Hong Kong were beaten 1-o in Liechtenstein, before disposing of Cambodia 3-0.
Welshman Holland, who previously helped Westwood with Indian side Bengaluru and the Afghanistan national team, joined the Hong Kong coaching staff for those matches. He should again be by Westwood’s side for the Philippines clash at Hong Kong Stadium, in addition to next Tuesday’s Mong Kok Stadium meeting with Mauritius.
Holland is expected to be confirmed as the new head coach of Lee Man following the current Fifa window.
Westwood pleaded ignorance over the speculation around his No 2’s future, but said a job with the reigning Hong Kong champions would not affect Holland’s representative team role, which is limited to work during international windows.
“We have a lot of part-time staff, they are paid a minimal day rate to offer assistance, guidance and expertise,” Westwood said. “That’s the way the federation is set up. It’s how it was before I got here and nothing to do with me.
“If Wolfi [coach Wolfgang Luisser] got a job in the Hong Kong Premier League [he could still work with the representative team].
“We have four full-time coaches in the set-up, so I am grateful I have many others who can help on a part-time basis.
“I am always pushing John [Morling, technical director] and the federation to make as many improvements as possible and Matt was certainly an improvement on what they had before I got here.”
Hong Kong are seeking a climb from their world ranking of 158, but Westwood said the outcome against the Philippines was “irrelevant” to that.
“It’s more about our performance and implementing our framework … sticking to our style of play, the players understanding it and improving from last time,” he said.
“Our tactics are possession-based, then we makes tweaks depending on the opposition. Against Liechtenstein, we made 450 passes, then 390 against Cambodia. Before I got here, the average was 150-to-160. It’s why we play people like [37-year-old defender] Fernando, and why players like Everton [Camargo] are now enjoying their football … we like to play the right way.”
The Post has been told that Philip Chan Siu-kwan will not start against the Philippines, with Ngan Cheuk-pan of Kitchee getting the nod in midfield over the current Hong Kong footballer of the year.
Chan, a forceful footballer and personality, did not start in Liechtenstein either, but was restored for the Cambodia fixture.
“If you don’t have players disappointed [when left out], it tells you that you have a weak squad,” Westwood said. “It’s horses for courses … our team will be based on both Philippines’ and our strengths, and making sure we don’t lose.
“Sometimes, with goalscorers and matchwinners, which is what Philip is, it’s easier to come on when games open up.”
The Philippines’ world ranking climbed to a high of 111 in May 2018, before steadily tailing off to 148 in September this year. A 3-0 victory over world No 105 Tajikistan last moth precipitated a climb to 145 and Westwood talked up the Southeast Asians as strong opposition.
He highlighted the ability of German-born winger Gerrit Holtmann, who plays for VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga, and pointed to the Philippines squad featuring players from leagues in Norway, Switzerland, USA, Belgium, Thailand and Indonesia.
“We are aware of their capability,” Westwood said. “We have to impose ourselves on them, play our style of football, work hard and defend well. We are looking forward to a competitive game, these are the type of matches you want to play.”