Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Beijing: Beijing Guoan’s bid for a first win in this year’s AFC Champions League has suffered a blow with coach Gregorio Manzano confirming the Chinese Super League side will be without defenders Zhou Ting and Lang Zheng, goalkeeper Yang Zhi as well as midfielder Joffre Guerron for Wednesday’s meeting with Australia’s Central Coast Mariners in Group F.
Goalkeeper Yang was sent-off last week as Beijing were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Korea Republic’s FC Seoul, while Zhou picked up a second yellow card of the campaign against the 2013 finalists.
And with Lang also injured alongside Ecuadorian midfielder Guerron, Manzano’s troubles were worsened after defender Zhang Xinxin suffered an injury during Saturday’s 1-0 win over Dalian Aerbin in the Chinese Super League and is a doubt to face the A-League Grand Final winners at Workers’ Stadium.
“After two draws, we hope to have a win tomorrow at home. It will be decisive to the final ranking within the group and I hope we can give our best and take three points,” said Beijing coach Manzano, who has seen his charges win both of their domestic outings this season.
“Zhang Xinxin got injured during the game against Dalian. I have to talk to the doctor today after the training, but at the moment, I can't say if he can make it or not. In the meantime, Yang Zhi and Zhou Ting both are suspended and Lang Zheng and Joffre Guerron are injured. None of these can be part of the game tomorrow; however we are still confident because the rest of the team are ready.
“Our defence will face a serious challenge. Before it was the captain Xu Yunlong who was resting due to injury and now it is Lang Zheng, Zhou Ting and Yang Zhi. If Zhang Xinxin can’t make it, it means our situation is even more difficult. But we have to cope with it and be more prepared.”
While Beijing are short of players, Central Coast coach Phil Moss is boosted by the return of Marcel Seip after the defender missed last week’s 2-1 home win over J.League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima due to suspension following his dismissal during the defeat by FC Seoul on Matchday One.
And Central Coast have made the trip to China following Saturday’s 3-1 home win over Newcastle Jets in the A-League, which followed quickly on from last week’s victory over Hiroshima which lifted Moss’ side above Beijing in the Group F table.
“We know Beijing are suffering from injuries and suspensions, so we hope we can gain more room in attack. But we can't ignore defence; after all we are playing an away game,” Moss.
“We are very confident with our current situation, especially the attacking end. But I know Beijing have good replacements and I believe that it will be a good match tomorrow night.
“Beijing is a strong team and some of our players have played in the Chinese Super League, so we had done lots of research on this team. We have very high expectations of this club and they have all our attention.”