Johor Darul Ta’zim face Al-Ahli in Jeddah on April 16, 2025, with a place in the AFC Champions League semi-finals on the line, and Luis Garcia said it is the biggest game in the club’s history.
This is the first time Johor Darul Ta’zim have reached the last eight of Asia’s premier competition, and they arrive after eliminating Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the previous round. Garcia said the club is not satisfied with simply being there. “This is our biggest game ever and we are proud to be here,” he said. “But we want more. We want to make the club, his Royal Highness and all of Malaysia proud.”
Johor Darul Ta’zim have built that moment on a model that blends experienced foreign talent with local players developed through the academy system, while their social media following has climbed beyond 10 million. Garcia said the club’s leadership is clear, with everyone aligned on taking the next step each year. “We want to be exciting, dynamic and bring joyful football,” he said. “But we also have a responsibility to develop local players and raise the level of the national team.”
The backdrop is a familiar one in Asian football: clubs from Japan, South Korea and wealthier Middle Eastern leagues have long controlled the competition, while Johor Darul Ta’zim remain at a financial disadvantage against sides such as Al-Hilal. Garcia said money alone will not decide this tie. “At a certain point, money does not win matches,” he said. “Organisation, teamwork and belief — that’s what matters now.” He added: “We have quality, we have structure, and we will have our chances. As a team, we can beat them.”
For Johor Darul Ta’zim, the quarter-final is already a landmark. The question now is whether their rise, built over years rather than one night, can carry them one round further.