| By Kenneth Tan @KennerveT |
Lambasted for the shocking group stage exit two years ago in the same competition and not even favoured to get out of the group stages this year Raddy Avramovic's side has shut critics up with a superb run to the final this time round.
"If you look over the two games, we deserved it," said the two-time AFF Championship winner.
"The players gave their 100 percent and I must mention the good support from the public as well.
"Isa Halim did a good job in midfield, and the back four of Bennett, Baihakki, Safuwan, Shaiful also did extremely well in defence."
On the upcoming final, the long-serving Singapore coach was feeling bullish about the chances.
"We can try, why not?" he said calmly on winning the title for a record fourth time.
"Whether we will face Malaysia or Thailand, we have to wait and see. Both teams will be hard and are capable of scoring goals, but we're a good team too.
"There are no bad teams in the final. It'll be nice if we can win it."
Last but not least, he urged the night's goalscorer to produce a similar performance in the final.
"If we go back to June, I was discussing about the team for Suzuki Cup and I tried to bring Khairul Amri back into the team," he said of the injury-prone forward.
"His form's close but not yet there, but he can give a lot more."
The first leg of the Suzuki Cup Final will be played on Wednesday December 19 and will be a home leg at Jalan Besar Stadium. Malaysia and Thailand face-off in the second leg of the other semi-final on Thursday December 13.
