Albirex coach Yoshinaga: We want another Quadruple

Last season, the all-conquering Albirex Niigata under Naoki Naruo obliterated their rivals by snapping up every piece of silverware on offer.

The White Swans, led by Kazuaki Yoshinaga this term, are targeting a repeat clean sweep, and they are already halfway there.

The Great Eastern Community Shield and The New Paper League Cup trophy are already in the bag.

Later this month, they will face Home United in the RHB Singapore Cup semi-finals.

On the Great Eastern-Hyundai S.League front, they currently hold a massive 12-point lead at the top of the table over second-placed Tampines Rovers, who have played two games less.

Speaking to The New Paper, the usually stoic Yoshinaga broke into a grin as he talked about the team's targets.

"We want to make history again this year by winning another Quadruple," said the 49-year-old.

"We will take it step by step, game by game. But we have to make sure to win two more.

"We have seven more games left in the S. League and we will try to field our strongest players for every game."

Albirex will head into the final stretch of their campaign with a full-strength squad.

However, Yoshinaga admitted that this is also giving him a selection headache.

He said: "(Tomoki) Menda, (Yuki) Yamanouchi and (Tsubasa) Sano are back from injury, and will be available for selection.

"It is a bit tough to choose the best 11, but this is difficult in a good way."

Albirex will resume league duties tomorrow after a break of almost three weeks, with a clash against bottom side Garena Young Lions at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

Yoshinaga was quick to caution his side against complacency.

He said: "The Young Lions' motivation might be down after the SEA Games, but we still have to be careful.

"We do not have any special strategies or plans for the game ahead, but all I know is that we will play our hardest for the rest of the season and get the job done.

"This is nearly the end of the season. As a team, and individually, we have to improve more and more.

"As long as I am the head coach, I will never be satisfied. I might only be satisfied at the end, but we need to evolve constantly."