Guangzhou: Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has warned defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande against complacency ahead of the start of the 2016 AFC Champions League against Korea Republic’s Pohang Steelers on Wednesday.
Guangzhou followed up their 2013 triumph over Korea’s FC Seoul with a hard-fought 1-0 aggregate win over Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates in the AFC Champions League final at the end of last year to claim a second continental title in three years.
But despite also winning a fifth consecutive Chinese Super League title in 2015, Scolari is remaining cautions ahead of the new campaign with Guangzhou yet to start the new domestic season while opponents Pohang beat Vietnam’s Hanoi T&T in the AFC Champions League play-offs earlier this month.
“I've been telling my players that every year is more difficult than the previous year. It is my job to tell them that. So I think they are aware of how to improve themselves to face the new situation. Time will tell. Also I can't deliver anything alone and I need the players to cooperate with me in order to have a good season,” said Scolari.
“We've been preparing for this game for quite a while. I know the group phase is always difficult, especially the first few games. However, I have to admit that we haven't had a very efficient winter training as there were only two friendlies. And as you all know the previous season finished pretty late, so our agenda is behind our Asian competitors, even Chinese opponents. Given the above circumstances, we are not fully equipped tactically and physically, but I hope my players can perform better and win the game.”
Brazilian coach Scolari has lost compatriot Elkeson who scored the decisive goal in both final successes, although Guangzhou recruited Colombian Jackson Martinez ahead of the start of the new season with the remainder of the squad remaining largely unchanged.
“Jackson Martinez has played one friendly with the team and he needs more time to settle in, this is normal. I am quite satisfied with the player management this season,” added Scolari.
“I want to say that our club hasn't not only bought one new player, but continued the contract with all players, meaning that we are highly satisfied with all players. I am happy.”
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Guangzhou are looking to join Pohang, who won the Asian Club Championshipin 1997 and 1998 before winning the 2009 AFC Champions League, as the only three-time continental champions.
Pohang, though, have aspirations of their own after Shim Dong-woon’s hat-trick secured victory over Hanoi and with it a return to the AFC Champions League for a sixth time having reached the quarter-finals in 2014.
“We reached this stage by overcoming qualifications, in this sense we started the season earlier than Evergrande. I hope we have good performance tomorrow. Guangzhou is the best team in Asia and to face them we prepared carefully at both ends,” said Pohang coach Choi Jin-cheul.
“We will focus on playing out our own style instead of following their tempos. That is the most important thing. I know they have a new foreign player which means they may have a new formation, so I can't say we know them well for 2016.
“Every team has its advantage and shortcomings. Foreign players can be helpful, but too many of them may not be a good thing.
“We are not spending too much time looking at the past. Now we only care about the game tomorrow.”
Photo: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com