Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Nonthaburi: Muangthong United have bolstered their squad ahead of their upcoming AFC Champions League qualifier against Johor Darul Ta’zim after sealing loan deals for a trio of Thailand stars.
Playmaker Chanathip Songkrasin, defender Tanaboon Kesarat and left-back Peerapat Notechaiya, who were all part of the Thailand squad that narrowly failed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the ongoing AFC U23 Championship, have agreed to join the Twin Qilins from BEC Tero Sasana for the 2016 campaign.
The deals were confirmed on the club’s official website on Tuesday and comes as a huge boost considering the three players are regarded amongst the best players in Thailand at the moment.
With this real statement of intent, Muangthong chairman Pongsak Phol-Anan believes it is time they reclaim their place at the summit of Thai football after three seasons without silverware.
“It is no secret what the club’s goal for this season is,” he said.
“We are chasing a return to being champions of the Thai Premier League.”
Click here for all upcoming fixtures
For now, their immediate task at hand is a second preliminary round qualifier against Johor Darul Ta’zim on February 2 at the SCG Stadium.
Should they see off the reigning AFC Cup champions, they will then have to negotiate a finaly playoff tie against China’s Shanghai SIPG.
Pongsak added: “In addition to our target in the league, we are also aiming to get through to the group stage of the AFC Champions League.
“Our meeting with Johor Darul Ta’zim of Malaysia will not be an easy task as they were champions of the AFC Cup last year.
“If we get through this, we will then have to go to China to play Shanghai SIPG so it is important that we have a team ready to build on success and achieve our goals.”
In particular, Muangthong have pulled off a real coup in sealing the services of silky-skilled attacker Chanathip, who previously had a trial at J.League outfit Shimizu S-Pulse and has long been tipped for a move overseas.
Nonetheless, Tanaboon and Peerapat are no slouches themselves and, despite both being 22, are already key players in Kiatisuk Senamuang’s Thailand squad.
All three have enjoyed success on the international scene in the past three years as members of the War Elephants team that were champions at the 2013 and 2015 South-east Asia (SEA) Games, as well as the 2014 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Championship.