Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Football

Cuadrat confident ahead of debut as interim PMNFT coach in crucial Asian Cup qualifier


Despite the abrupt departure of head coach Albert Capellas, the Philippine Men’s National Football Team is determined to keep its momentum alive as it faces a tough challenge against Tajikistan in the third round of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers on Tuesday at the New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.

Capellas ended his brief but impactful tenure on a high note, steering the squad — still popularly known as the Azkals — to a dominant 4-1 victory over the Maldives last March.

Now, with assistant coach Carles Cuadrat stepping up as interim tactician, the team must quickly adapt to fresh leadership in the face of a formidable opponent ranked 104th in the world.

“We know we’re going to play against a very competitive team,” said Cuadrat, who inherits a roster shaped in part by his predecessor. “They’ve played together for a long time. They reached the quarterfinals of the last AFC Asian Cup with the same core, so their chemistry and understanding of the system are strong.

“But we’re also continuing with the same philosophy and structure,” Cuadrat added. “We believe we can be competitive and get a good result.”

2026-Asian-Cup-Qualifiers-Philippines-vs-Tajikistin-Carles-Cuadrat-x-Gerrit-Holtmann Cuadrat confident ahead of debut as interim PMNFT coach in crucial Asian Cup qualifier Football News PMNFT  - philippine sports news

History favors the Philippines in this matchup.

The Philippines hold a solid 4-1-2 all-time record against Tajikistan, including a resounding 3-0 victory in their most recent encounter at the 2024 King’s Cup in Thailand.

That win was punctuated by a goal from Gerrit Holtmann, who is especially excited for this clash as it marks his long-awaited home debut in front of Filipino fans.

“Compared to when we played against Tajikistan in October during the King’s Cup, it will be a completely different squad,” said the 30-year-old forward.

“This will be a completely different game. They have a lot of quality players. But I think we also have a very good team.”

With plenty to prove and a nation rallying behind them, the Filipinos aim not only for a win but to deliver a performance that shows continuity, belief, and heart — hallmarks of the PMNFT’s spirit.

“It’s all about possession and dictating the tempo,” Holtmann added. “We’ll go out there and try to give the fans something to cheer about. We want this to be a night to remember.”

#ReadMore  Des Cheng says outing vs F2 was nothing personal: 'We are fighting for the twice-to-beat'
Written By

Lorenzo's a frustrated author who knows a thing or two about Football and Basketball. Went all green from Ortigas to Taft. Supports Liverpool FC, FC Bayern Munich and the Alaska Aces


You May Also Like

Football

Philippine Men’s National Football Team midfielder Sandro Reyes emphasized that the sudden departure of former head coach Albert Capellas did not derail the squad’s...

Football

Gerrit Holtmann did not hide his frustration after the Philippine Men’s National Football Team settled for a 2-2 draw against Tajikistan in the third...

Football

Bjørn Kristensen delivered a stellar two-goal performance to help the Philippine Men’s National Football Team secure a 2-2 draw against Tajikistan in the third...

Football

Just when things started to look up for the Philippine Men’s National Football Team, a sudden turn of events threatened to derail its momentum...

Football

Philippine Men’s National Football Team midfielder Sandro Reyes has called on the team to maintain its upward trajectory following a strong start in the...

Football

Amid high anticipation, midfielder Randy Schneider gave Philippine Men’s National Football Team fans a glimpse of his potential, scoring a brilliant solo goal in...

Football

The Philippine Men’s National Football Team kicked off its campaign in the final qualifying round of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup with an emphatic...

Football

For the first time since its semifinal run in the 2024 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup, the Philippine Men’s National Team is reuniting to resume...

Advertisement