Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Parramatta: Laurentiu Reghecampf has dismissed claims his Al Hilal side will go into their meeting with Western Sydney Wanderers in the first leg final of the AFC Champions League on Saturday evening as favourites, despite the club’s record of continental success.
The two-time Asian champions take a wealth of experience into the meeting with a Western Sydney side that has advanced to the final in their debut appearance in the AFC Champions League, but the Romanian coach believes the past will count for little.
“On Saturday night, and after one week, we are not playing with history,” said Reghecampf. “We have to do that.
“I think if you reach the final you try to win. I don’t think it’s very important for the people in Sydney or in Australia what Al Hilal has won before. We have to make a very good game and that’s why I say we have two games and not one. We are going to try our best.”
Al Hilal were last crowned Asian champions in 2000 when another Romanian, Anghel Iordanescu, led the club to victory over Japan’s Jubilo Iwata – then the defending champions – in the final of the Asian Club Championship at their own King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh.
Since then Al Hilal have struggled at continental level and this is the first time since the creation of the AFC Champions League in 2002 that the Saudi giants have reached the final of the continent’s leading club competition.
While few in the current Al Hilal squad have tasted success at Asian level – only winger Mohammed Al Shalhoub remains from the successful 2000 team – midfielder Saud Kariri will be hoping to secure his third AFC Champions League winners’ medal having won the title with Al Hilal’s great rivals Al Ittihad in 2004 and 2005.
Kariri missed training on Thursday due to treatment for a cold, which required a trip to the hospital, but Reghecampf is hopeful the 34-year-old will be ready to take his place at the heart of his team.
“Saud was not training but today he’s much better and I hope we’re going to have Kariri tomorrow on the field,” he said. “But also if he’s not playing we have enough players with us and I hope that we can play without Saud.”
Reghecampf has set his sights on picking up at least one away goal in tomorrow night’s clash at Parramatta Stadium to ensure his team has an advantage ahead of the return next Saturday.
“It’s very important if we can score, because in Riyadh we will have a full stadium, a very nice atmosphere and our team plays much better at home,” he said. “I hope we don’t receive any goals and to score one would be wonderful.”
However, the Romanian is only too aware of the quality of a Western Sydney Wanderers side that has seen off both of last season’s finalists to earn their berth in the deciding round of the competition.
“I’ve seen all of their games,” said Reghecampf. “We have almost 20 games and I think they have a very good team, very well prepared in fitness. They have built up together into a very strong team, a family, and you see that in every game. That’s the point on how this team is growing up.
“They won against Guangzhou, they won against Seoul, very difficult teams to play against and I think they deserve to be in the final. But I hope they don’t win the final.”