Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Guangzhou Evergrande coach Luiz Felipe Scolari believes defender Mei Fang will deliver an “awesome performance” in Saturday’s AFC Champions League final first leg against Al Ahli from the United Arab Emirates in place of suspended Korea Republic international Kim Young-gwon.
Kim will miss the meeting at Rashid Stadium after picking up a second yellow card in the semi-final second leg draw with Japan’s Gamba Osaka last month as 2013 champions Guangzhou secured a return to the final.
And after Mei stepped in for suspended right-back Zhang Linpeng last weekend as Guangzhou beat Beijing Guoan 2-0 to secure a fifth consecutive Chinese Super League (CSL) title, the defender is set to partner Feng Xiaoting in the centre of Scolari’s defence on Saturday.
“I have confidence in Mei Fang and I am pretty sure he will have an awesome performance,” said Scolari (pictured right).
“I have a very good impression of Al Ahli especially in the semi-final. They are well prepared and well organised and they have very good players with good skills.”
Guangzhou, who are unbeaten in 26 matches in all competitions since the end of May, arrived in Dubai late on Tuesday evening.
“This time our preparation was different as we had a long time travelling and we are a little jet lagged,” added Brazilian 2002 FIFA World Cup winner Scolari.
“But we have had a good welcome and good hospitality and we are happy to be here and our team is well prepared.”
Scolari is looking to replicate the success of Italian FIFA World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi, who masterminded Guangzhou’s 2013 AFC Champions League and CSL double.
“I have had two chances to reach the final match. The first time was with Bunyodkor in Uzbekistan and now this is the second chance to reach the final match,” said Scolari, who led Bunyodkor to the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League in 2009 and the Round of 16 in 2010.
“In my career I have won the World Cup and played in South American championships and European championships, and now it would be my honour to add the Asian championship.”
Captain Zheng Zhi is also out to claim a second AFC Champions League crown having lifted the 2013 trophy after Guangzhou edged out Korea Republic’s FC Seoul on away goals following a 3-3 draw on aggregate.
“We have some pressure, but we are confident ahead of this final,” said the 2013 AFC Player of the Year (pictured left).
“I think this year will be different. In 2013 we beat an East Asian team, but this is a different strategy with a different team.
“This team is well organised and the players are good and tomorrow will be a tough match, but we are very confident and we are ready.”
Photo: WSG