Which young players specifically do you think we could see specifically, and who are you interested in working with?
We have [players from] the Olympic (U23) team here, and I believe in all of them. Specifically I think [Chatchai Saengdao], [Patcharapol Intanee], [Korrawit Tasa], [Poramet Arjvirai]. I think Poramet has a big potential, and I mention his name because he’s had more time. I don’t want to talk about other names because maybe everybody will put too much pressure on them. But we have many good players here who I believe in a lot.
There are also other players who I believe in but I want to see them play [elsewhere]. When they stay here, in Muangthong, everybody supports you. I want to see these players really without comfort. Go play for another club, with another coach, with other players, not the same friends. How will he do? This is important.
Which clubs do you think will present the biggest challenge to you next season?
All. I think the Thai League now is very tough. For most of the teams, this season the [amount of] money is down, but they’ve invested well with the players they’ve got. Most of the same teams which fought for the [top] positions last year I think again will control the league. These six teams. Maybe they will change the positions – I hope so because I don’t want to be in fifth position again.
But, I expect a lot from the other teams. I see now with the transfer market, everybody has done very well, with foreigners and Thais. If I want to go to the market now, it will be very difficult. All the good Thai [players] have been taken by some club. So the top six first, but all the clubs.
What are your expectations for next season?
My target is to be better than last year. Same as I said before, my target is always to be a champion. I don’t think any other way. This is the last year on my contract, and I want to be a champion.
I came here last year to try and help, and we helped together with the players. When we finished the season, we were not satisfied because we knew we could go near to fight for the title. But this year, the most important thing – I believe in the players, but right now we have only Derley as a foreigner (at time of recording). It is very important for me [to act] in the market now. If I really bring the players – not the name, but the characteristics – which I want, I can guarantee you that I will go and be a champion. But if, I can’t bring the players, these little differences…
It is not an excuse. I can still guarantee that we can go and fight for the championship. But I need the market. The market now is not easy. We are trying, and let’s see. If we sign, [we can] take Muangthong back to the place they deserve [to be at] – always fighting for the championship, always in the top three positions. I am here now going into my sixth year in Thailand, and always Muangthong [want to] control the league, together with other clubs. I want to bring them back to that, and I want to be a part of this.