BOJAN Hodak played down the pressure on KL City to win big against Singapore's Tampines Rovers in Cheras tomorrow to keep their hopes of staying in the AFC Cup alive.
Only a three-goal win for the Malaysia Cup champions will be enough to displace Indonesia's PSM Makassar from the top of Group H, with only the group winners guaranteed to advance to the next stage.
Anything less, and KL's fate rests with results elsewhere to progress as the best group runners-up. A draw or defeat would end their interest in the competition.
"Just go out and play your best game and if you perform well, the result will come," was KL coach Hodak's message to his players.
"Results will always come if you work hard. Every game is a must-win in professional football, there is no easy game. If we win, we can go through and go far, so no real pressure."
Having not scored in their last two matches, the onus is on KL to get a better result than Makassar's 3-1 win over 10-man Tampines on Monday.
"We need to be more aggressive and create chances to score," said KL striker Romel Morales, who has only three goals in seven Super League appearances this season after emerging as the Malaysia Cup top scorer last year.
"We have a lot of confidence, and we know it's an important game for the club. We showed last year we can get results in a tough game when the pressure is on during the Malaysia Cup.
"We need to continue this intensity. Now we know what we have to do, and we just have to focus on the game and try to score many goals."
Tampines coach Gavin Lee will be without the suspended Chris Van Huizen following the winger's 31st-minute red card against Makassar while leading 1-0.
Currently fourth in the Singapore Premier League, the only way for Tampines to advance is by finishing as the best group runners-up, and they will need to win by four goals to do so.
"You know the math better than I do," said Gavin. "We are focused on what we can control, which is to give our 100 per cent."