Seoul: Choi Yong-soo urged Group F leaders FC Seoul to avoid complacency and losing focus when they host China’s Shandong Luneng in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
The Korea Republic team have been one of the standout performers in the first half of the group stage, scoring 14 goals in three games.
A 6-0 thrashing of Buriram United in the opening game was followed by 4-1 wins over Sanfrecce Hiroshima and then Shandong in the away tie.
And a consecutive victory over second-placed Shandong at home would confirm Seoul's place in Round of 16 with two games remaining.
“I am confident that we can finish first but we still need to focus,” said FC Seoul coach Choi.
“They have some good players and we will need to be at our best especially as they have had one more day's rest than us.
“We are in good form at the moment but there are three games to go and if we relax and think we have made it, we could still be eliminated.”
Seoul are also going well in the K-League Classic, bouncing back from an opening day defeat to win two games in succession. The latest was a 3-1 win over Incheon United on Saturday with prolific Brazilian Adriano getting his 11th goal of the season so far.
Check out the ACL Match Centre
Opponents Shandong had enjoyed a similarly bright start to their 2016 campaign with three wins from the first four games in the Chinese Super League and the AFC Champions League before the 4-1 loss at home to Seoul.
And that reverse was followed on Friday with a 2-0 defeat at Hangzhou Greentown. A win in Seoul, however, would put Shandong level on points with the leaders.
"We are expecting a tough game as FC Seoul are playing very well at the moment and scoring lots of goals. We have to focus on our own game and play the way we know we can play,” said Shandong coach Mano Menezes.
“Although playing away from home means we’ll have to defend strongly, we can't only defend for the entire 90 minutes. We expect more and our fans expect more so we will want to attack aggressively, too.
"The season is still early and there is a long way to go and we are still in a good position in the group. We are looking forward to showing our fans a different Shandong than in the last game.”
Photo: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com