KUALA LUMPUR: "Don't insult the intelligence of Selangor fans."

That is Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) owner Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim's response to Selangor FC chief executive officer Dr Johan Kamal Hamidon's claim that they are closing the gap with the Southern Tigers.

The Regent of Johor's comments on X came despite former Malaysian football aristocrats Selangor having won no major trophies since 2015.

At a partnership event with Provident on Wednesday, Johan told the media: "In my view, we need to be realistic and consider the competitive nature of our league. Over the past two seasons, we have successfully narrowed the gap with the champions (JDT)."

He added that Selangor's KPI remain unchanged: top two in the Super League, finals in the Malaysia Cup and FA Cup, and progression to the knockout rounds in the Asean Club Championship and AFC Champions League II.

But Tunku Ismail posted on X: "Selangor CEO Johan said the gap between JDT and Selangor is narrowing? 2023 – 15-point difference in the league; 2024-25 – 28-point difference; 2022 – Lost 5-1, drew 1-1, lost 2-1 in the Malaysia Cup final; 2023 – Lost 4-0, 4-0, and 2-0; 2024-25 – Lost 3-0 at home and 6-1, the biggest defeat in FA Cup final history.

"So please explain to me, Johan, how exactly has Selangor narrowed the gap? If you're trying to cover up your own failures, at least don't insult the intelligence of your own supporters. Selangor fans deserve better."

While Johan may have hoped to portray Selangor's decade-long rebuild as progress, critics see the results on the pitch as proof that the Red Giants are still light years behind JDT.

With Selangor's last Super League title coming in 2010, the FA Cup in 2009 and the Malaysia Cup in 2015, their fans have grown increasingly restless amid the club's rhetoric about a "long-term project".

Last season, Selangor were only able to lift the second-tier Challenge Cup after beating Police in the final, a far cry from the elite status they once held.

Now, with the Charity Shield showdown between Selangor and JDT set for Aug 8 at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Tunku Ismail has fired the opening shot.