Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Robina: Coach Frans Thijssen has instructed his Brisbane Roar players to avoid worrying about results elsewhere during their final AFC Champions League Group G match against Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds at Robina Stadium on Tuesday night.
After their domestic season was ended by Adelaide United in the A-League elimination final on Friday, Roar must beat Urawa and hope K-League Classic side Suwon Samsung overcome Beijing Guoan as part of a minimum four-goal swing against the Chinese club if they are to progress to the continental knockout stages.
But Thijssen expects his players to be focused on their primary target despite the team's hopes hinging on events in Korea Republic.
"For us it's very clear. We have to win the game then look at the other results," said Thijssen.
"The only thing we can do is to do the job here and that's what we will try to do. "We have to score a couple of goals and of course that's not easy when you start the game and you're thinking of having to score three goals."
Although Brisbane will be without suspended fullback Corey Brown, Thijssen did indicate star playmaker Thomas Broich would be fit to play after the German sustained an injury in the 2-1 loss to Adelaide.
And while the former Netherlands international predicted a tough encounter against Urawa, Thijssen took confidence from his team's 1-0 away win over the J.League leaders in March.
"We will use that. I thought we had a great result there," he added. "They didn't get many points (in the group) but they are still a good team.
"We have to see what players are playing tomorrow because they have a big squad and a lot of players, a lot of quality. We can expect a difficult game."
Roar's hopes of progressing are likely to be boosted by the prospect of a weakened Urawa squad, who edged Gamba Osaka in the league on Saturday.
While not naming which players would miss the match, Urawa coach Mihailo Petrovic revealed several new faces would line up for their final continental fixture.
"After the long flight coming here we are going to use fresh players but we have got good quality players overall," said Petrovic. "Unfortunately we couldn't get through the group stage but this is football. For our club and for our supporters we have to win.
"The last game in Japan with Brisbane Roar was a good game. Nothing is wrong with our team and we’ll be playing to get a victory.”