Butcher wants Azkals to scale own Mount Everest

Terry Butcher (RIGHT), a former national team player for England, is the new Azkals head coach. AFP PHOTO/ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP PHOTO / Andy Buchanan

If the Philippine Azkals want to impress new coach Terry Butcher, they will have to understand the former England captain’s big goals for the country.

Butcher, who will lead the Azkals at their first ever Asian Cup in January, said in Moscow that the World Cup “is our target for the Philippines.”

“The Philippines is in the Asian Cup. Why can’t we look further on? That what we have to do,” Butcher said in a video interview released by the Philippine team.

Butcher and senior football advisor Scott Cooper were both introduced Thursday night as the men who will steer the country in the AFF Suzuki Cup and the AFC Asian Cup.

The replacement of Dooley, who led the country to its first Asian Cup qualification in history, hasn’t dampened the morale of the team, which wants to make the most out of the switch.

“Whenever there’s a change in coaching staff, there’s the opportunity for all players to prove themselves,” said star Phil Younghusband. “When we see that change, you see a lot more energy, a lot more freshness within the team. I’m sure I speak on behalf of all the players who are very excited and looking forward to the challenge and trying to impress Scott and Terry.”

But Butcher won’t be easily pleased.

“It is okay to [be] reaching a level but it is horrible and awful to just rest on your laurels at that level.”

Butcher compared it to climbing Mount Everest, saying: “You don’t stop halfway up. You want to go right to the top.” —WITH A REPORT FROM AFP