Selangor will return "very strong" next season - Pan Gon

KUALA LUMPUR- Selangor FC coach Kim Pan Gon says his side will return "very strong” next season despite ending their campaign in disappointment after losing at the 2025-2026 Asean Club Championship (ACC) final to Thailand’s Buriram United FC, last night.

The Red Giants went down 3-1 on aggregate after suffering a 2-1 defeat in the return leg at Buriram Stadium last night, having also lost 1-0 in the first leg at the Petaling Jaya City Council Stadium, last week.

Pan Gon admitted he was disappointed after Selangor failed to secure second place in the Super League but insisted the club had rediscovered its identity ahead of next season.

"I’m a little bit upset we couldn’t get into second position (in the league). We reviewed our characteristics and our DNA and I'm very much looking forward to next season.

"We will be very strong. We will challenge and go back to our position,” the 57-year-old South Korean tactician told the official ACC website.

Selangor finished third in the Super League behind champions Johor Darul Ta’zim and runners-up Kuching City.

Pan Gon, who took charge of Selangor midway through the season, last January, described the ACC campaign as a positive platform for the team to rebuild its playing identity despite ultimately falling short in the final.

"I came in the middle of the season and when we played the Shopee Cup (ACC), we were always excellent. We tried to build our characteristics in this competition with dynamic play. In the final it was a very tough opponent, but we tried to keep our characteristics,” he said.

In last night’s encounter, Selangor briefly revived hopes of a comeback when Muhamad Syahir Bashah scored in the 18th minute before Buriram United responded through Suphanat Mueanta (27th minute) and Theerathon Bunmathan in the 55th minute to retain the regional title.

He admitted his players’ nerves during the first leg played a crucial role in the Red Giants’ aggregate defeat.

"Tonight (last night) I’m very proud of all the Selangor players. We have done very well, our players and I’m very proud. I think it was very positive tonight, I have no regrets. In the home game I think the players weren’t used to playing in a final, it had been a long time and they were nervous.

"We encouraged the players to show their characteristics, they must be representing our fans. It worked and even though it was an away game we were confident. I was very proud that we maintained our characteristics against such a strong team,” he said. - BERNAMA