ACL - Group E: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors v FC Tokyo preview

Published on: 22 February 2016

Jeonju: Coach Choi Kang-hee is eyeing a positive start to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors’ 10th AFC Champions League campaign as the K-League Classic champions face Japan’s FC Tokyo at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Group E on Tuesday.

Jeonbuk booked their place in the AFC Champions League for a seventh consecutive year after claiming their fourth K-League Classic at the end of last season.

But after losing in last year’s quarter-finals to Japan’s Gamba Osaka (pictured), 2006 AFC Champions League winners Jeonbuk have brought in the likes of striker Kim Shin-wook, midfielder Kim Bo-kyung, defender Kim Chang-soo and Australian Erik Paartalu to boost their ranks.

“After that game, I knew we had to bring in more players,” said Choi after Jeonbuk suffered a heart-breaking 3-2 defeat to Gamba in last year’s AFC Champions League quarter-final second leg after conceding in stoppage time when a draw would have been enough to progress. 

“We have played many of this kind of game before. We have prepared as well as we can and we are looking forward to it.”

Jeonbuk, though, will be without Kim Kee-hee after the midfielder joined China’s Shanghai Shenhua.

“It came out of nowhere, but we have the players who can adequately fill the gap and at the moment, it is not a problem,” added Choi.

Jeonbuk have yet to begin the defence of their K-League Classic title, and while the new J.League season has also yet to begin, opponents FC Tokyo beat Thailand’s Chonburi 9-0 earlier this month to qualify for the group stage.

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“There is a difference between finishing first and second in the group, but our first target is to get to the second round. We are looking to win our three home games and this is the first step,” said Choi with China’s Jiangsu FC and Vietnam’s Becamex Binh Duong completing the Group E line-up.

“We have looked at FC Tokyo, but they have made about five changes to their best 11 from last season and they have only had one competitive game with the win over Chonburi. They started last season very well, but then lost a few players to Europe.”

The win over Chonburi earned FC Tokyo a second appearance in the AFC Champions League having reached the last 16 in 2010 before losing to eventual winners Ulsan Hyundai from Korea.

“Jeonbuk have won the last two K-League titles,” said FC Tokyo coach Hiroshi Jofuku. “They are a strong team that has strengthened a lot. We will do our best to get the win and will keep going right until the end.

“Japanese teams haven't always had good results in the AFC Champions League. It is a tough situation, but our goal is to win the competition and we want to get off to a good start.”

Photo: Lagardère Sports

Source: the-afc.com

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