Defiant Divaldo hits back at Negri critics

By ESPNSTAR.com staff

Negri Sembilan, three-time Malaysia Cup winners and league champions in 2006, have had a season to forget so far after picking up just two points from their opening five games.

After last season's respectable 6th-placed finish under Azraai Khor Abdullah, the Deer's struggles this season have made them an easy target for criticism and many have already installed them as early-season candidates for relegation alongside bottom club Terengganu.

However, Alves was in no mood to entertain suggestions his side were destined for failure in 2013 and took offence on Tuesday when asked in the post-match press conference if he felt his side could still challenge the big boys of the Super League.

"Do you think we are no longer a big team?" he rebuked. "For me, we are a big team.

"Sorry to interrupt you but please don't talk about my team in this manner.

"Negri Sembilan are a big team, everywhere I work is at a big team.

"The future of Negri Sembilan is very, very good. We just have to keep working hard."

The Portuguese also expressed his belief that luck in front of goal has been the only thing his side have lacked, but backed them to build from Tuesday's morale-boosting draw at the Sultan Mohammad IV Stadium - one of the toughest places to get a result in Malaysian football.

"The ball just will not go in," he replied, when asked what has been missing from Negri Sembilan's displays so far. "There is no team that has created more goalscoring chances than us.

"I'm sure it will work out. We always play like this - we play good football and we create chances.

"Our confidence will go up because we know it is very difficult to win or draw at Kelantan's stadium. Since 2011, Kelantan do not lose at their own stadium - they only win or draw."

Following the international break, the Deer are next in action on February 16 when they entertain second-placed ATM.