Kuala Lumpur: Ahead of the 2017 AFC Champions League quarter-finals kick-off, we turned to the Asian football fans to ask about their prediction, hopes and fears for their teams.
Al Ain vs Al Hilal
Q: What are your predictions for the quarter-final over the two legs?
Jalal, @Eng_Jalardo, Al Hilal fan: The knock-out stages of the AFC Champions League need special strategies to win over the two legs and I believe Diaz can deliver that.
The two matches against Al Ain are very difficult because we are facing an opponent that knows us very well and a very good coach. It is tough to predict, but if we play like we did last season, then we will progress to the next round.
Bu Khaled, @Bu5alled, Al Ain Fan: I think we will scrape through, we will win 2-0 at home then lose 1-3 away in Riyadh.
Q: Which player could make the difference for your team?
Jalal: Eduardo, Kharbin and Al Braik are three players who can make the difference in attack.
Bu Khaled: Caio is a very dangerous player, he can make the difference for us.
Can you name one player from your quarter-final opponents you want at your club?
Q: Jalal: Omar Abdulrahman, of course.
Bu Khaled: I would choose Nicolas Milesi from Al Hilal.
Q: Can your team win the AFC Champions League this season?
Jalal: Al Hilal is always one of the favourites to win the AFC Champions League and now Diaz has managed to create a strong side by the end of last season so our chances are as good as ever.
Bu Khaled: It is very difficult, but – God willing – we can do it. With Zoran Mamic and the current squad, we are stronger.
Shanghai SIPG vs Guangzhou Evergrande
Q: How do you see the match playing out?
Lu Jiaqi, Shanghai SIPG fan: We have faced Guangzhou Evergrande many times of the years, and we did not win many of those matches. We are not that weak in theory, but they have more experience.
I hope Shanghai SIPG can fight hard and win the game. The absence of Paulinho and Huang Bowen will have a big impact on Guangzhou Evergrande.
Simon Yang, Guangzhou Evergrande fan: I feel Guangzhou has a decent chance because Shanghai SIPG need to travel a lot before the AFC Champions League quarter-final first leg, while Guangzhou only have to travel to Shanghai.
This is the best thing for us. We also face each other in the FA Cup, so I hope we can win that and the AFC Champions League, too!
Q: Who do you feel are the key players for your and your opponents’ team?
Lu Jiaqi: Hulk and Wu Lei. These two combine so well together, not only scoring goals themselves but making chances for others in the team.
It is hard to say a key player for Guangzhou Evergrande since they lost Huang Bowen to injury and Paulinho left the club.
Simon Yang: Hulk is one of the best foreigner players in the Chinese Super League.
Due to his physical power, he can be a threat to all the defenders in China and even in Asia.
Q: If you could have one player from the opponents in your team, who would it be and why?
Lu Jiaqi: Zhang Linpeng, because he was our player when he was a kid, I wish he will come back to us one day.
Simon Yang: Odil [Ahmedov]! Paulinho leaving the club, and Huang Bowen getting injured was terrible news.
Odil would absolutely help us. He is among the top players in Asia, for sure.
Persepolis vs Al Ahli
Q: What are your predictions for the quarter-final over the two legs?
Mohammed, @Alahli_Royaal, Al Ahli fan: I think we will get a draw in the first leg then win the second leg and qualify to the semi-final.
At the end of the day, I think Persepolis will qualify taking advantage of away goals rule.
Q: Who will be the key player?
Q: Can the team win the 2017 AFC Champions League?
If they qualify to the next stages, they can take advantage of their huge support again, which will make them stronger. That day Persepolis can also be dangerous even for east Asian rivals.
Kawasaki Frontale vs Urawa Red Diamonds
Q: It’s an all-Japanese quarter-final, how do you see the match going on?
Reiji, @Reiji13, Urawa fan: If was possible, we wouldn’t have wanted to play against them. I think it’s easier to play against teams from outside of Japan.
Neil, @frontalerabbit, Kawasaki Fan: We’ve done well against them recently. but they always seem to beat us when it matters.
It’s always sweet when we beat them and painful when we lose to them.
Q: What is your predictions for the quarter-final over the two legs? 　　
Reiji: 2-1 to Urawa.
Neil: I think it will be close and will probably go right down to the final minutes of the two legs. As our home leg is first, I think we’ll need to get off to a good start in the first match and then hopefully pick them off in Saitama.
Q: Who will be your key player?
Reiji: Yosuke Kashiwagi, who has been in good form recently.
Neil: I’d say it would be the defence and keeper. When we defend well, we look good, but when we have an off day, things have the potential to get a bit embarrassing.
Q: Can you say one player from your opponents you would want at your club?
Reiji: Shogo Taniguchi.
Neil: None. We have some weaknesses, but I think we’ve got players in the squad who could fill those gaps, if they got into some form.
Q: Can your team win the AFC Champions League this season?
Reiji: I support them, believing they can win it.
Neil: No, I don’t think so. On an individual game basis, I reckon we could beat the other teams, but I’m not sure we’ll be able to put together enough good results. I’d be delighted if we could though!
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com