Al Shalhoub promises Al Hilal won't hold back against Urawa

Published on: 24 November 2017

Saitama: Mohammad Al Shalhoub has insisted Al Hilal have no intention of changing their attacking style of play ahead of the second leg of the AFC Champions League final with Urawa Red Diamonds at Saitama Stadium on Saturday.

The Saudi Arabian side produced a fine performance in the first leg last week but only came away with a 1-1 draw after Urawa stopper Shusaku Nishikawa produced a number of excellent saves to deny the tournament’s leading goalscorer Omar Khrbin.

Al Hilal must now do what no other team have managed in this year’s competition – stop Urawa from winning at home – if they are to lift the AFC Champions League trophy for the first time.

 

“It’s true, we could have got a better result because we had so many chances in the game but we weren’t able to take them,” said Al Shalhoub.

“Their goalkeeper played very well on the night and had a big impact on the end result. He saved nearly all the chances we created but I hope in the second leg on Saturday we will have more luck and be able to score more.

“But we will be confident for the match and we won’t change our style of play because we are away from home. We'll try to control the game and attack from the beginning.”

Al Shalhoub (bottom left) lines up for the 2000 Asian Club Championship final.

The forward has spent his entire career with the Riyadh club, making more than 300 appearances in establishing himself as a firm fans’ favourite.

Al Shalhoub has experienced the joy of being crowned continental champion, having been a member of the 2000 Asian Club Championship-winning squad.

But he also suffered the heartache of being on the losing end of a final defeat when Al Hilal fell in the 2014 main event to Western Sydney Wanderers as they failed in their attempt to win a first AFC Champions League.

“It’s no secret that we felt very down after that final, but then the players promised each other that they would return to the final and win the cup,” said Al Shalhoub.

“We tried hard in the past two years but we were unsuccessful, but this time we will give it absolutely everything we have to become champions of Asia.”

One person who will be key in Al Hilal’s quest to become kings of the continent is Khrbin.

The Syrian’s performances for club and country have earned him an AFC Player of the Year nomination and have helped win him huge respect from Al Hilal stalwart Al Shalhoub.

“Ever since joining us he has put in so much effort and will never accept defeat. He is very important for us, but we are a team,” said Al Shalhoub.

“I think he deserves to be the AFC Player of the Year, not because he is an Al Hilal player, but for everything he has done for the team this year.”

Photos: Lagardère Sports

Source: the-afc.com

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