Saitama: Coach Andres Villas-Boas bemoaned Shanghai SIPG’s inability to create chances as they crashed out of the AFC Champions League at the semi-final stage following a 1-0 loss to Urawa Red Diamonds on Wednesday, resulting in a 2-1 aggregate defeat.
Urawa’s Rafael Silva broke the deadlock on 11 minutes at Saitama Stadium to put the onus to attack squarely onto Shanghai SIPG, who had come into the tie behind on away goals.
And yet, despite the likes of 2017 AFC Champions League leading scorer Hulk, Brazilian star Oscar, China forward Wu Lei and two-time continental winner Elkeson in their attack, Shanghai SIPG struggled to carve out clear-cut opportunities, mainly restricted to long-range efforts.
“We had a lot of the ball but couldn’t create a lot of chances,” said former Chelsea and Zenit St Petersburg coach Villas-Boas.
“We paid for one single mistake we made in the first half at the corner, that was the goal that put Urawa through.
“Once they scored they gave us the ball and sat back. We couldn’t create chances to get in behind their defence, who played well.
“As time went on in the second half we ended up playing more long balls and just couldn’t create anything. Their strategy worked and ours didn’t.”
Shanghai SIPG have improved on last year’s maiden continental campaign, bettering their quarter-final elimination in the 2016 edition, and will also appear in the Chinese FA Cup final against bitter city-rivals Shanghai Shenhua next month.
“It’s good that we improved, of course, and we are making the right steps going forward, but we would have preferred to play in the final – it was our dream to do so – and so we are very disappointed,” added Villas-Boas.
“My players did everything, so I congratulate them for their effort and we still have the Chinese FA Cup final to look forward to. Our dreams are still alive for a trophy this season, but unfortunately we have missed out on the big one this year.
“Congratulations to Urawa, their players and staff for qualifying for the final. Urawa are a very good team and I have been surprised by them since I arrived in Asia. If I wasn’t managing a rival team, I would be supporting them.”
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com