John Herdman Compares Indonesia vs Malaysia Clash to Newcastle vs Sunderland Derby
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- Pelatih Timnas Indonesia, John Herdman, menyamakan tensi laga melawan Malaysia dengan derbi panas Newcastle vs Sunderland di kampung halamannya.
- Kedua tim datang dengan modal kemenangan meyakinkan di laga perdana Grup A, menjadikan duel di SUGBK sebagai penentu siapa yang layak memuncaki klasemen.
- Pertemuan pertama setelah lima tahun ini bukan sekadar ajang balas dendam, tetapi juga ujian mental dan taktik bagi skuad Garuda di bawah tekanan suporter.
The Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK) is expected to roar when the Indonesia national team hosts Malaysia in the second match of Group A of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 on Monday (28/9/2026). For coach John Herdman, the atmosphere of this clash is nothing new—he likens it to the legendary Tyne-Wear derby between Newcastle United and Sunderland in England.
The Newcastle-born man said he has received a daily 'warning' from those around him. "Every breakfast at the hotel, someone always shouts, 'Malaysia, Malaysia, you have to win!'," he said at a press conference with a smile. He added that as a Newcastle man, he understands exactly how tense the derby against Sunderland is, and now he feels something similar ahead of the match against Malaysia.
Herdman also drew a parallel with the Canada vs United States rivalry he experienced while managing the Canadian national team. According to him, the match against Malaysia is not just about three points, but also national pride and the pride of the supporters. Even so, he still stressed the importance of respect for the opponent. "What we give on the pitch, the supporters will follow. If we want to win a derby with full support, we have to give everything," he said.
Both teams enter this match with a perfect record. Indonesia defeated Singapore 2-0 through a goal from Ragnar Oratmangoen and a penalty from Ole Romeny. Meanwhile, Malaysia scored a hatful against Bangladesh with a 3-0 scoreline. Those results make the duel at SUGBK a decider for who deserves to top the provisional Group A standings.
Interestingly, this is the first meeting between Indonesia and Malaysia after a five-year absence from facing each other. The last time they met was at the 2020 AFF Cup (19 December 2021), when Indonesia crushed Malaysia 4-1. Now, with a different squad composition and new ambitions, Malaysia certainly wants to avenge that humiliating defeat.
"As a Newcastle person, we have a big derby against Sunderland. So from the people at the hotel, I understand very well how important this match is." — John Herdman
For the Indonesian football public, this match is not merely a revenge fixture, but also proof that Herdman's team can perform consistently under the pressure of a heated rivalry. Full support from the supporters at SUGBK can be the 12th man, but it can also be a boomerang if the players cannot control their emotions.
From a tactical standpoint, Herdman is expected to continue relying on quick attacks from the wings and to utilize the speed of Ragnar Oratmangoen and the composure of Ole Romeny in set-piece execution. Meanwhile, Malaysia, known for their physical strength and discipline, will try to steal a goal through counterattacks.
A win over Malaysia will increase Indonesia's chances of advancing to the next round, while also cementing their position as one of the title contenders. Conversely, a defeat could trigger sharp criticism and damage the positive momentum being built.
The big question: can Herdman prove that his understanding of the Newcastle vs Sunderland derby truly manifests in the players' strategy and mentality? The answer will be seen on the SUGBK pitch on Monday night.
