Respect Arema FC, Bernardo Tavares Confirms Persebaya Remains Targeting Victory

Persebaya Surabaya enters the 2026 President's Cup semi-final fixture against Arema FC with full confidence. Nevertheless, head coach Bernardo Tavares noted that Singo Edan, Green Force's upcoming opponent, ranks as one of the strongest teams in Indonesia.

The match between both sides is scheduled to be held at Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium, Gianyar, Bali on Tuesday, 4 August 2026.

Persebaya confirmed their semi-final ticket as Group B champions after securing three straight wins over Persija Jakarta, PSMS Medan, and Port FC. Meanwhile, Arema FC advanced to the semi-final round as Group A runners-up with a total of 6 points collected from three matches.

Tavares assessed that the impressive group stage record does not grant any meaningful advantage for his side.

"Arema has a very good squad. They signed quality new players, retained most of last season's roster, and are still led by the same coach. On top of that, they also hold a strong historical record in the President's Cup. That is why we have to deliver our best performance with the player conditions we currently have," stated Tavares on the official Persebaya page.

Tavares revealed that Persebaya is not yet at peak condition, as several players are currently dealing with injuries.

"Right now there are still some players carrying injuries, and a number of others are not at 100 percent fitness. But whoever takes the pitch will give their maximum ability right from the first minute," he explained.

He added that physical condition evaluations will continue to be carried out right up until moments before kick-off.

"We completed our recovery session today. Right now the most critical thing is for all players to get proper rest tonight. Tomorrow we will re-evaluate which players are truly match-ready, and how many minutes each one can be fielded for," Tavares added.

Persebaya holds a positive head-to-head record against Arema FC. Across the last seven meetings in all competitions, Green Force remains unbeaten with five wins and two draws.

Even so, Tavares refused to use this past statistic as a reference, noting that semi-final matches carry entirely different pressure and characteristics.

"Of course we want to win, especially against Arema. I understand the supporters' expectations, and all the players share that same desire. But our main target remains to build the squad and get properly prepared for the upcoming Super League," he stated.

Tavares reiterated that the President's Cup is part of the team's preparation phase ahead of the official 2026/2027 season competition. For this reason, every match is being used to refine the team's overall playing system.

"Do not forget this is a pre-season tournament. Our core focus remains squad development. As seen in our previous matches, we have given playing time to many players, we even tried some personnel in different positions. We want to properly understand each player's characteristics and what contributions they can bring to this team," he concluded.