KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta'zim's (JDT) 4-0 drubbing of Selangor on Friday is proof of their continuous evolution as a team.
The Super League defending champions have maximum points after five rounds. They have netted 21 times and conceded only one goal, highlighting the improvements they have made defensively.
There has been a change of guard at the back with only Mathew Davies retained as a regular. Ahmad Syihan Hazmi, Jordi Amat, Feroz Baharudin and Hong Wan have come in to replace Farizal Marlias, Shahrul Saad, Shane Lowry and Natxo Insa.
At the head of the defensive pack sits Hong Wan, who is fast proving to be a worthy replacement for Insa.
He plays a crucial role in the team, shielding the backline from potential threats.
Hong Wan, who picked up a black-eye during the Selangor clash, is pleased with their progress.
"This year we have a lot more balance. Jordi came in, Matt and Shane, when he played, as well as the others, all contributed to it," Hong Wan, 22, told Timesport today.
"We focus more on defence this season to protect the goal first, then that starts everything for us. When we are secured defensively, we are able to go forward and score more.
"Tano (Esteban Solari) is a great coach, he brings a lot of confidence to the team."
Feroz, who is the same age as Hong Wan, has also shone this season. His performances have not gone unnoticed and he has been included in the latest national squad.
Added to the mix, left wing back Oscar Arribas, who is just two years older than Feroz, and the special Arif Aiman, 20, on the opposing flank, and the future is certainly bright for JDT.
In addition to maintaining JDT's superiority in the M-League, it appears that head coach Solari has also been tasked with helping the team evolve.
Solari has the credentials to do so, having previously worked with the Argentina Under-20 and Under-23 squads.
"I'm very happy with all of them because they made a big effort to build this (team). At the end of the day, defending well also means running, helping each other and also being compact together," said Solari.
"We have many young players in the team and they are playing well. They are the future of JDT".