John Herdman Asks Heritage Players to Understand the Indonesia-Malaysia Rivalry
Indonesia national team head coach John Herdman has a message for the heritage players in his squad ahead of the match against Malaysia. The English tactician wants his players to understand the rivalry between the two teams.
The clash between Indonesia and Malaysia will take place at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK) tomorrow, Monday (28/9). The winner will secure a ticket to the final.
Encounters between Indonesia and Malaysia are often referred to as the ‘Derbi Serumpun’ (Malay Derby). Despite being neighbors, matches between the two nations are often intense and fiercely contested.
However, the heat of the Indonesia-Malaysia rivalry has certainly not been felt by the heritage players who were naturalized in the past three years. This is because the two teams have not met since late 2021.
John Herdman, who has been coaching the Indonesian national team for less than a year, has also not experienced the rivalry with Malaysia firsthand. However, he already understands the significance of this fixture.
“I understand how important this match is from many people at the hotel where I am staying. Every day during breakfast, the same people always tell me that we must win against Malaysia,” said John Herdman.
“So I understand that this is a big match. As someone from Newcastle, we have a big derby against Sunderland.”
The duel between Indonesia and Malaysia promises an exciting spectacle, especially since both teams started their journey in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 with victories.
Much like the Indonesian national team, Malaysia is also bolstered by many naturalized players. This match serves as a moment to prove their quality.
“I told my players to always respect this moment. Don’t get carried away by the atmosphere, but respect the moment,” he added.
“Whatever we show on the pitch, the fans will support us. If we want to win the derby with the backing of the fans behind us, we have to give everything.”
