Malaysia might have finished second best to Thailand in the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup but midfielder and tournament top scorer Safiq Rahim believes Harimau Malaya's fine tournament run will give the team the confidence for 2015.
"We only had limited time together but yet we reached the final," the Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) midfielder told New Straits Times. "If we had more time together before the tournament things would have been even better. We must learn from our mistakes in the tournament and work on them so that we improve in the future.
"Fitness is of course a key issue. However, people should take into account that if we had no quality we wouldn't have reached the final."
Safiq, whose six goals earned him the Golden Boot award, added that coach Dollah Salleh made the right decision to recall veteran players for the tournament. Dollah has been under fire in Malaysia because a youthful Thailand side -- with average age of 24 -- scored late goals in both legs of the final for a 4-3 aggregate victory.
"The coach picked the seniors because they had international experience and were also impressive in the Malaysia Super League," said Safiq. "I have to disagree with those who had labelled us as a team of old players. Except for three or four seniors, the others are still young. I am 28 so if people say I am old then I can't do anything about it."
Safiq -- who skippered Malaysia to their only Suzuki Cup title in 2010 -- is tipped to be reinstated to the captaincy. The incumbent is 35-year-old Mohd Shukor Adan, who has announced his retirement following Saturday's second leg of the Suzuki Cup final.
- Leong: Malaysia Player Ratings
Shukor, the Felda United defensive midfielder, was used as a centre-back in the tournament. His excellent display in his last match for the national team ensured that Malaysia won the second leg of the final, 3-2. But the late goals by Thailand midfielders Charyl Chappuis and Chanathip Songkrasin enabled Thailand to win the title on aggregate over both legs thereby denying Shukor the farewell he dreamt of.
"I decided before the Suzuki Cup that the tournament would be my last outing. I am not changing my mind now," Shukor told The Star. "I came back for the Suzuki Cup out of my respect for coach Dollah and to serve Malaysia. However, it is time now for the next generation of players to step up."