Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Beijing: Coach Gregorio Manzano has called on his Beijing Guoan players to “make history” by qualifying for the AFC Champions League quarter-finals for the first time and secure victory over Korea Republic’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in their Round of 16 second leg clash on Tuesday at Workers’ Stadium.
The Chinese Super League runners-up secured a 1-1 draw in their first leg away match in Jeonju, courtesy of a late penalty from Argentinian playmaker Pablo Batalla that cancelled out Kim Kee-hee’s 12th minute header for the hosts.
And play-off qualifiers Beijing, who previously lost in the Round of 16 in both 2010 and 2013, now welcome 2006 winners Jeonbuk to the Chinese capital with a potentially vital away goal.
“This will be a crucial match in the club's history and, as such, we will do our very best to win the game,” said Beijing’s Spanish coach Manzano.
“At Beijing Guoan, we always target victory and Tuesday will be no different. We won't be conservative, and we will try our best to attack. We have our tactics for the game already prepared, but it certainly won't focus on defending.
“There’s no doubt it will be a very intense game as Jeonbuk is a strong team. But we are playing at home with support from our fans and I believe we can make history by qualifying for the last eight of the AFC Champions League for the first time.”
Manzano, who was named Chinese Football Association Coach of the Year last season, saw Brazilian trio Edu, Eninho and Leonardo all waste second half chances for Jeonbuk in the first leg, and is well aware the threat the early K-League Classic table-toppers pose.
“Jeonbuk has to play with all it has on Tuesday, because they have nothing to lose; we have to be realistic about that and prepare ourselves carefully,” added the vastly experienced Spaniard, who has previously helmed the likes of RCD Mallorca, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla.
“They were very efficient and fast in the first meeting in Korea, so we had to be very aggressive in the second half of that game.
“But now we are facing them at home, we have to limit their space and avoid giving them too much room to attack.”
Photo: WSG