PETALING JAYA: Negri Sembilan must close the gap between their good and bad performances if they want to climb the league table, says influential Japanese midfielder Takumi Sasaki ahead of their match against Police today at the Selayang Stadium.

Sasaki stressed the importance of consistency and mentality as the Deers look to build momentum in the Super League.

“We need to have the mentality to give our all in every game. To do that, we must be clear about how we want to play against our opponents,” said the 27-year-old, who has been with the club since 2024.

Despite Police sitting at the bottom of the standings, Sasaki warned that the match would not be easy.

“We are well prepared for the next match. Our opponent is in last place, but they will play with a lot of energy because they are not under pressure,” he said.

“However, this game is also about ourselves. If we can perform to our full potential, we can win.”

Negri have shown signs of improvement since the appointment of interim coach K. Rajan, with Sasaki noting a positive change in their approach over the past two matches.

“We have played two games under the new interim head coach and I think our gameplay has improved,” he said.