Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Riyadh: When former Urawa Red Diamonds midfielder Takafumi Hori took over the club as head coach in July, he did not envisage that five months later, he would be addressing gathered media in Riyadh ahead of the 2017 AFC Champions League final, the 50-year-old admitted.
Nevertheless, Hori believes his side have done all the right things to deserve their spot in the final showpiece of Asia’s biggest club competition.
“We are honoured to be here in Saudi Arabia facing Al Hilal in the final. When I first joined the team, I did not expect to come this far, but of course, no one can predict the future,” said the coach.
“We prepared well and worked hard throughout this competition and naturally, we reached the final."
Hori has prepared his side for a physical game ahead of Saturday’s AFC Champions League final first leg, but is aware of Al Hilal’s tactical organisation.
Urawa Red Diamonds made a 9,600 kilometres trip to Riyadh where they face an unbeaten Al Hilal side who are chasing a seventh continental trophy in their history.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/urawa_semi_win_jpg.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/endo_urawa_jpg.html
