Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) are preparing to face defending champions Al Ahli in the AFC Champions League Elite quarterfinal. JDT captain Natxo Insa is embracing the challenge.
JDT’s Journey to the Quarterfinals
Johor Darul Ta’zim have reached the AFC Champions League Elite quarterfinals after a long wait. It has been seven years since their debut in Asian football’s premier club competition. Current owner Tunku Ismail Idris began his stewardship back in 2013. Making their mark on the continental stage has always been the next frontier for the Southern Tigers.
Having won 12 Malaysia Super League titles in a row, JDT have achieved domestic dominance. After falling in the round of 16 twice in 2022 and 2024-25, JDT can lay claim to being among the best eight clubs in Asia this season.
Facing Al Ahli in Jeddah
JDT’s first taste of last-eight action in the tournament sees them take on Saudi Pro League giants Al Ahli at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Friday evening. They will be up against the defending champions, who boast global stars such as Riyad Mahrez, Ivan Toney, Franck Kessié and Édouard Mendy, on their own turf.
It is the type of occasion JDT will have been dreaming of. It is undeniably a genuine challenge, one not lost on captain Natxo Insa.
Insa’s Perspective
“In the 12 years of this club [as JDT], we have achieved a lot of things,” Insa said in the pre-match news conference. “We are improving year by year. To be here is hard work through big performances in the league phase.
“We are facing one of the best teams but we have to believe in ourselves. We have nothing to lose. We didn’t come here to be on holiday. We are going to give everything we’ve got.”
“We are here because everyone in the club is aligned with the high expectations of becoming better. We don’t play just for ourselves.
“We can face opponents with more history and better players but we have something others don’t have because we fight as a family and that gives us the power to achieve our goals.
“As a player when you know the objective from the very top, the mission is clear.”
Muñoz Seeks Upset
Insa has been at the club since 2017. He has worked under eight different coaches in that time. All have delivered domestic silverware to Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.
Current coach Xisco Muñoz will go down in the history books as the first to lead the club this far in the ACL Elite. Muñoz is still a month and a half away from his first anniversary at the helm. A stunning upset of Al Ahli would be a perfect early present.
The centralised ACL Elite finals are taking place in Jeddah from April 16 to 25.