While competing schools faced off in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament last Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium, an interested observer was present in the grandstand: newly appointed Philippine Men’s National Team head coach Albert Capellas.
Capellas, who has held various positions at clubs such as Borussia Dortmund, Vitesse, and Barcelona B, attended the matches to scout local talent as he seeks to implement his program for the national team.
The Philippines will compete in the 2024 Annual King’s Cup Football Tournament this week and in the 2024 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup later this year.
“First, I wanted to understand the football system in the Philippines, as it operates differently from Spain,” he explained.
“In Spain, university football is not as important, but in the Philippines, it plays a significant role. That’s why I’m here—to learn how the university system works, scout the players, assess their level, and follow the competition.”
For Capellas, this role marks his first experience leading a national team at the senior level in international football.
He previously coached Denmark’s under-21 national team, guiding them to the knockout stage of the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Therefore, his primary focus right now is not solely on results, but on implementing a style of play and seeing his ideas come to life on the pitch.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Let’s see how quickly we can integrate the new ideas. Imagine trying to change the way a team plays; sometimes, teams that train every day need one or two years to achieve that,” said the 57-year-old coach.
“That’s why I don’t expect to accomplish everything in just four games. People need to understand that while winning and losing are part of football, we are currently in a phase where we must also focus on the process and the team’s performance,” he shared.
“Even if we lose, I might still be satisfied if I see the players grasping the concepts I want to implement for the future. If they continue to progress in this way, I know victories will come soon. Conversely, if we win, I might be disappointed because we are still far from the style of play I envision. That’s what I want to observe in upcoming training sessions and matches.”
This week, the Philippines will begin its participation in the Annual King’s Cup Football Tournament against host nation Thailand.
Depending on the results, they may face either Syria or Tajikistan in their next match.
In November, the country will host two international friendlies against Hong Kong and either Brunei or Chinese Taipei.
With only four fixtures remaining before the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup campaign, Capellas is aware that time is not on his side.
However, he remains hopeful that under his leadership, the national team can surprise its ASEAN rivals.
“For me, I always focus on the next game, which is against Thailand. I am not thinking about the Mitsubishi Cup yet. This is a process that has just begun, and you cannot create a winning team in just one tournament or through friendly matches in November. Those are only four games,” he noted.
“This means I don’t expect to construct a new team in such a short time. Nevertheless, we will do our best to select players who can contribute to this process. Of course, we want to play the tournament with the strongest team possible, ensuring they have as much information as they need to perform at their best,” he added.
“One thing I’ve learned in football is that you never lose a game before it begins. We will enter the Mitsubishi Cup aiming to win the first game, then the second, and then the third. Let’s see how our quality and the players’ performances stack up in the tournament.”
