AFC Champions League: Eastern boss expects scrutiny in Ratchaburi test
Roberto Losada says team’s morale is low following poor start to campaign, but vows to fight with players until the end
Eastern coach Roberto Losada has raised the unlikely possibility that he could lose his job should his side fail to reverse their poor early-season form.
The Hong Kong FA Cup holders have won only twice in 11 games, and it would be a shock if they were to end a five-match winless streak when they host Ratchaburi in the AFC Champions League 2 on Wednesday night. A fortnight ago, they were thrashed 5-1 by the same opponents in Thailand.
Their campaign sank to a new low when they lost 1-0 to newly promoted Eastern District on Saturday.
Nonetheless, any move to replace Losada would be nonsensical. The 49-year-old is the reigning three-time Hong Kong coach of the year. He has delivered three pieces of domestic silverware over the past two seasons, despite repeatedly losing his star men to big-spending rivals at home and abroad.
“I have faith in my players and will go with them until the end,” Losada said on Tuesday.
“If I have to die on the way, I’ll die on the way. Football is like this; sometimes the club has to change things and the first one [out] is the coach.”