|
|
|
|
| AFC Champions League |
|
|
|
| Engels adamant Reds will advance |
 |
| Urawa are to part ways with their German coach Gert Engels, according to media reports. |
SAITAMA – Urawa Reds manager Gert Engels is confident his side can carry their J.League form into the second leg of the AFC Champions League quarter-final against Al Qadsia and progress to the last four.
The reigning Asian club champions go into Wednesday’s match trailing 3-2 after losing a thrilling game in Kuwait City last week, but with two away goals the German and his team know they only need to win 1-0 to reach the semi-finals for the second year in a row.
Reds downed local rivals Omiya Ardija in league action on Sunday as Naohiro Takahara scored the only goal of the game and Engels believes they can carry on where they left off.
“We have been able to prepare well and we were able to show that in our game at the weekend against Omiya and we will show the same kind of performance on Wednesday as well,” he said.
“Going for a draw is difficult. It’s much easier when you know that you have to win. We have to win so we must play in an active manner and go for the result. That makes it easier for us.”
Engels has yet to name his starting line-up for the must-win match but he will have Japan international Keita Suzuki available again after the holding midfielder missed the first leg through injury.
Striker Tatsuya Tanaka remains sidelined while Brazilian forward Edmilson, who scored both of Urawa’s goals in the first leg, and Yuichiro Nagai should both recover from knocks to be available for selection.
Satoshi Horinouchi, however, will miss the game with a suspension following his sending off in the first leg.
“Since we lost the last game 3-2 we want to win,” said Engels. “I think we have prepared well and we are in good condition and we will be able to win, but no one knows what will happen.
“I know what my starting line-up will be but we have one more training session so I want to check each player’s condition one more time before the game.”
Engels also shrugged off suggestions that his side’s position as defending champions was an extra burden on his players.
“The history of the AFC Champions League isn’t so long so I don’t think there’s any difficulty in that situation,” he said.
|
|
|
|
|
|
