Singapore are focussed on their upcoming AFF Suzuki Cup game against Indonesia despite the uneasy situation prevailing in the camp over Baihakki Khaizan's tiff with coaching staff, according to head coach V Sundramoorthy.
After having drawn their opening encounter against hosts Philippines, the Lions endured a heart-breaking defeat against Group A leaders even after coming with a disciplined defensive display. Sundram's side are now in a must-win situation as they head into their final group game on Friday.
Also read: Analysis - How Singapore and Malaysia can qualify for the semi-final
Amidst a demanding situation, the mood in the camp has taken a hit after senior defender Baihakki Khaizan reportedly slammed a coaching staff of the Lions unit for his exclusion from the starting line-up in the ongoing tournament on Wednesday.
The centre back said the assistant coach, whom he did not name in his post, had analysed his statistics and had recommended his axing from the playing XI. The 32-year-old also said he was receiving "silent treatment" from his coach since the tournament began in Manila.
However, Baihakki took down the post later in the evening and came up with another, in which he revealed that he had cleared the air with the concerned in the Lions' unit.
Sundram though remained composed at the pre-match press conference and said that his team was not looking into the matter too much ahead of their all important clash on Friday.
"Team spirit could not be better. The players are in a good mood and ready for the battle. We know what we have to do," Sundram said, as quoted by FourFourTwo.
Notably, the Lions have to win against the fourth-placed Garudas, in order to stay in contention for the semi-final spot.
Sundram's unit is in a spot of bother as they are the only team in the tournament to have not opened their scoring. Singapore cannot afford to park the bus and play the waiting game on Friday as they did in their last two games.
"Everybody is talking about our scoring problem but we will work on that and try to score. We are working in training, and showing the players what we can do to get it better," Sundram added.
"Obviously we haven't scored yet but we have had chances to score, especially against Thailand. As long as we keep making chances, I think we will score."
