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No excuse from Mount Pleasant - Christie
June 02, 2023
Mount Pleasant Football Academy General Manager, Paul Christie, is confident they will reach their first national final when they face off in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) semi-final second leg against Arnett Gardens at Sabina Park on Sunday.
The teams ended 2-2 after the first leg, and despite Arnett being considered favourites for the tie, Christie believes there is a hunger and desire in Mount Pleasant that fills him with confidence.
"It (game) will come down to will and who want it more, and right now, I have seen the hunger in the players' eyes. That is why I am on record saying that at the end of 90 or 120 minutes, whatever it takes, we are in a no-excuse mood, so we expect to be there in the final when the final whistle blows.
"Mentally, the players are not looking for excuses. We are in a good place and just looking to execute on Sunday. We respect the energy Arnett Gardens will bring, but we do not fear them, and the best is yet to come," Christie said.
The last time Mount Pleasant made the semis was in 2018 when they lost to eventual champions Portmore 2-1 in the first leg before drawing the second leg 1-1 for a 3-2 aggregate defeat.
However, unlike that semi-final, they do not enter the return game with a deficit, and that's a boost for Christie.
"Now we know destiny is in our hands. We need a win. Any win takes us to the championship game, and I am comfortable with the position we are in," Christie said.
"The last time we were in this position was with Portmore in 2018. They won the first leg and consolidated in the second leg but now we have no excuse not to execute our game plan.
"We are not in a state of deficit. We are in a good place, and we have to trust the judgement of the technical staff and go out and execute," he continued.
He added that St Ann and rural football fans can expect a treat when they turn out on Sunday.
"It will be a high-intensity and entertaining game, and the people of St. Ann and Jamaica will get a treat. So if you thought Monday night was a treat, make sure you get an early seat on Sunday, as the moment is now, we are here, and it's time to execute," he said.
