Popovic banking on home advantage
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Coach Tony Popovic is banking on Western Sydney Wanderers’ strong home record in the AFC Champions League this season against defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande, while FC Seoul and Pohang Steelers face-off in an all-Korean clash as the continental competition’s East Zone quarter-final first legs kick-off on Wednesday.
Popovic’s A-League side have enjoyed a maiden campaign to remember so far having eliminated J.League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the Round of 16 after overcoming a 3-1 first leg deficit courtesy of a 2-0 win in the return meeting in Australia.
And it is that impressive home record that could be the difference against Guangzhou, argues the Western Sydney coach, with his side also having beaten Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale and China’s Guizhou Renhe at Parramatta Stadium in the AFC Champions League this season.
“Your home games are vitally important as proven in the ACL for us whether it is the first leg at home or the second. We had the second leg at our stadium against Sanfrecce and we finished them off,” said Popovic, whose side will host Guangzhou on Wednesday before travelling to the home of the Asian champions next week.
“It is a different scenario now, though, and we have to try and be positive and take a lead to China – that’s our aim. It will be a difficult challenge, but it is one we are looking forward to.
“Melbourne Victory did very well against them at home in the group stage and that is a positive for us with our home record. Guangzhou proved their strength in terms of their squad and quality by finishing on top of their group and then comfortably getting through their Round of 16 but they are beatable.”
Despite reaching the quarter-finals for a third consecutive year, Guangzhou have struggled more this season and lost to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Melbourne in the group stage. Although the southern Chinese powerhouse had seemed to return to form with a 5-1 thumping of Cerezo Osaka in their Round of 16 first leg, they went down 1-0 to the J.League side in the return meeting in China.
Moreover, last year’s AFC Champions League top scorer Muriqui departed the club during the off-season to join fellow quarter-finalists Al Sadd of Qatar. The Brazilian’s departure, though, has been offset somewhat by the arrival of Serie A star forward Alberto Gilardino.
And defender Feng Xiaoting has dismissed any concerns about Guangzhou’s form and is insistent that the defending champions are confident that they will be successful in their title defense.
“We were very successful last year winning the AFC Champions League as well as the Chinese Super League and since then every team has analyzed us a lot. Also, changes to the players this season made us not as stable as last year,” said the China international.
“But we have always been on the right path and now we are in the last eight of the AFC Champions League again, and I believe we will do better in the upcoming matches in the AFC Champions League.
“There are no weak teams that you can beat easily at this stage of the campaign and Australian teams are very impressive with a high level of strategy. But we know how to learn from our defeats and I believe we will not fall down twice in one place. I have confidence that we can beat them and continue our title defense.”
Also on Wednesday, 2013 AFC Champions League runners-up FC Seoul will look to put their domestic league troubles on hold when they travel to the home of K-League Classic champions Pohang with a highly anticipated clash at The Steelyard.
After the loss of Ha Dae-sung and Montenegrin striker Dejan Damjanovic to the Chinese Super League ahead of the start of the 2014 season, the side from the Korean capital have struggled on the home front, but on the continent they continue to excel and secured a fourth quarter-final appearance in six years after edging out Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in the Round of 16.
‘We did our best in every match despite the changes and challenges during this season. I think these efforts have achieved a good result by reaching the quarter-finals,” said FC Seoul coach Choi Yong-soo.
“We do not depend on any star player and changed our team to be very well organised this year and we are confident we can play well.”
“Seoul and Pohang have played many matches previously in the K-league and AFC Champions League, so we will work hard to play a good game.”
Three-time Asian champions Pohang, though, remain the only undefeated side in the competition and have already eliminated one team from Korea Republic after beating rivals Jeonbuk in the last 16.
Already the owner of one AFC Champions League winners medal, after victory with the side in the 2009 edition, midfielder Hwang Ji-soo believe that the club’s unbeaten campaign will continue despite a tie that will be full of emotion and pride.
“This match is about representing our country and as this tie is between two club from the same nation it will be a very competitive game,” said Hwang, who believes FC Seoul will prove tough opposition despite their high profile departures.
“FC Seoul still have enough depth to cope with these losses, even with the likes of Damjanovic leaving. They will be well prepared and a strong team’s potential will never change.
“We would obviously like to try and get a fourth Asian title but it depends on whether we can perform to our best. However, if we can get a win in the quarter-finals against FC Seoul that could really give us some momentum going forward.”
Following Wednesday’s first legs, the return fixtures will take place a week later to determine who progresses to the semi-finals. In the West, meanwhile, a quartet of former continental champions face-off on Tuesday as UAE’s Al Ain take on Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia while Qatar’s Al Sadd face Saudi giants Al Hilal. /End/