NATIONAL coach K.Rajagobal does not believe in statistics and previous results. The former international only thinks about the present day.

And the 5-1 loss to Indonesia in their opening Suzuki Cup Group A match in Jakarta does not bother him and his players.

The Malaysian team had their heads down after that humiliation but despite the odds, they bounced back to reach the final against Indonesia.

Both teams, however, will definitely be in a fiery mood in the final as neither of them have won the title. Indonesia were losing finalists three times (2000, 2002, 2004) while Malaysia's only previous appearance in the final was in the inaugural edition in 1996, where Malaysia were beaten 1-0 by Thailand.

"I don't believe in statistics. At times, statistics are important but I prefer to get my job done not based on them," said Rajagobal at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya yesterday.

"Although, Indonesia have a fine track record in the Suzuki Cup with five wins, many don't realise that they played all their matches at home. They are practically untested outside Jakarta.

"Whilst we have played in Jakarta and Hanoi and despite playing our matches away, we have reached the final. My players are better prepared to withstand all obstacles in away matches as they have experienced them."

Rajagobal also wants his players to focus on the final and not think about the previous defeat to Indonesia.

"What happened before is not important. What is important is the present. I don't want my players to suffer from inferiority complex against Indonesia.

"But I am confident this will not happen. I can sense that my players are determined to go for the kill in the final. They know very well how to play Indonesia," said Rajagobal.

He said that he was proud of his boys' undivided attention and determination throughout the tournament.

"Many people deemed our team as failures after the opening match defeat to Indonesia. But they have risen to the occasion to silence their critics.

"People did not believe that we would make the final. Now that we have, we need to play good football and deliver Malaysia's first Suzuki Cup title," he added.

MALAYSIA will ignore attempts by Indonesia coach Alfred Riedl to play mind games, according to striker Safee Sali.

Safee will lead Malaysia's attack when they face Indonesia in Sunday's Suzuki Cup final first leg at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil and the Selangor striker hopes to tear their Southeast Asian rivals apart en route to winning the title.

Safee said Malaysia were not affected by comments from people outside the team.

"You shouldn't attach any importance to what Riedl says. He is trying to draw us into his mind games but we have to focus on our work," said Safee at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya yesterday.

The 26-year-old was Malaysia's hero against Vietnam when his brace in the semi-final first leg at home helped his team earn a 2-0 aggregate victory over the defending champions. The Kajang-born stalwart is also determined to contribute significantly in the final.

In a local Indonesian news papers, Riedl was recently quoted as saying that the Philippines side, who they met in the semi-finals, were tougher opponents than Malaysia.

But a few days later, the Austrian-born coach made an about-turn, also in a local newspaper, by stating that the final would be an evenly fought match as Malaysia have improved so much since their 5-1 loss to his side.

"He can say anything he wants about us. It does not matter anymore but I promise the final will be a different ball game. If we were not good enough, we would not have had made the final.

"The Indonesian coach can talk all he wants about our team. We will let our performance on Sunday do the talking," said Safee.

He said coach K.Rajagobal and his teammates had helped him throughout the tournament and he was not obsessed with scoring goals as he had other ways of contributing.

"I will be happy if we win. I scored in the semi-finals but maybe I will make a different kind of contribution in the final, if I am selected," he added.

Rajagobal praised Safee, who was only considered for the tournament after several regulars were injured, for his scoring prowess and ball movement.

"The player is happy because a born goal-scorer needs goals and he got them," added Rajagobal.