Saitama: Yasser Al Qahtani has vowed that Al Hilal will do everything they can to return from Japan with the AFC Champions League trophy as the Saudi Arabian side prepare to face off with Urawa Red Diamonds in the second leg of the final on Saturday.
Al Hilal’s long-serving club captain was an unused substitute as the Riyadh team dominated large portions of the 1-1 first-leg draw but, with Brazilian Carlos Eduardo (pictured below, left) ruled out through injury, Al Qahtani could well have some part to play at Saitama Stadium.
And should the forward be called upon, it would mark his second appearance in an AFC Champions League final after being on the losing end of a 1-0 aggregate defeat to Western Sydney Wanderers of Australia in 2014.
“For us, the previous final is one of just many tournaments that are in the past, so it has no effect on me or the other players,” said Al Qahtani, whose side are looking to end Urawa’s record of six straight home wins in the competition.
“This team never give up and the fact that we are now back in the final once more is proof of that.
“We will do everything we possibly can to break Urawa's [home win] record and make sure we come back from Japan with the trophy.”
The 1-1 draw with Urawa was Al Hilal’s first game against East Asian opposition since the 2014 final, while it was also the first time the Japanese team had played opponents from the other side of the continent since 2008, when they were defending champions.
Urawa went into the game as the competition’s top scorers but, after Brazilian Rafael Silva had given them an early lead, they struggled to create opportunities of note as Al Hilal took control of the game.
Indeed, both before and after Omar Khrbin’s equaliser, the tournament’s leading scorer had a handful of chances but was denied by a superb display from Urawa custodian Shusaku Nishikawa.
“I don’t think they were surprised [by our performance] because they would have known all about the way we play and how strong we are as a team,” added Al Qahtani.
“There is still everything to play for and now we must make sure we stay on the same level so we can become champions of Asia.
“After the first leg, the teams now know even more about how each other play so we know the strong and weak points of the opposition.
“I think it will be close but the team that put in the most effort will have the more luck and be able to win the match.”
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com