COMEBACKING German coach Michael Weiss hopes to retain the core of the Azkals, the national men’s football team, while beefing them up with key additions in preparation for the first round of the joint FIFA World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers in October and November.
“It would be best that we keep a core of this present team, with whom I am familiar with, while we take in some top additions so we can perform well in the World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers,” Weiss said yesterday in a press conference at the Philippine Football Federation office in Pasig.
“I know we have some of the best players now but we will need some more to reinforce our campaign,” added Weiss, who last called the shots for the Nationals in 2013, in his first day back at the helm.
“I believe what we have here is a win-win situation and when you are called back by the federation, there must have been something good you have done in the past to merit this second chance,” he said.
“We wanted a coach with international experience and whose learning curve would not be steep in mentoring the Azkals since he is familiar with some of them,” national team manager Dan Palami said.
“We welcome back coach Michael and this a positive development for the Azkals as we move forward and bid to qualify for the Asian Cup and World Cup,” said PFF president Mariano Araneta Jr.
PFF general secretary Atty. Ed Gastanes was also optimistic about the return of Weiss, saying: “We really hope that he can pull of something magical in our drive to qualify for the World Cup and Asian Cup.”
In his first act as the coach of the Azkals in the buildup to the World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers, Weiss will prepare the squad for friendly matches against Nepal on June 15 and Chinese-Taipei on June 18 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
The German mentor revealed that he would try to convince top Fil-British goalie Neil Etheridge, who is on vacation in the country, to suit up for both matches.
He lamented that midfielder Manny Ott, who plays for Malaysian club Kedah Darul Amn, would not be available after suffering a recent injury.
