Al Hilal’s international stars have positioned the Saudi team as one of the frontrunners for the prestigious Asian Champions League title, but Gwangju’s head coach Lee Jung-Hyo is focusing on his squad’s local talent ahead of their quarter-final clash on Friday.
Based in Riyadh, the club is striving for a record-extending fifth continental championship as the final stages of this year’s tournament kick off in Jeddah, drawing significant attention towards the high-priced players in Jorge Jesus’ team.
While the Serbian pair Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic have been instrumental in the success of a star-studded lineup that includes Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, and Joao Cancelo, Lee is convinced that the route to victory against Al Hilal lies in a different area.
“We need to focus on the Saudi Arabian players, on their local talents,” said Lee, who has guided the South Korean club to the continental championships for the first time.
“We are well aware of the prominent players and how they operate. We need to keep a close watch on Salem Al-Dawsari, Mohamed Kanno, and Ali Al-Bulayhi. They form the backbone of Al Hilal. We must manage them effectively.”
Entering the match at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium as the underdogs, Gwangju has already exceeded expectations by making it into the last eight.
Following a series of commendable performances in the group stage, the Koreans fought back from a two-goal deficit in the first leg to eliminate J-League champions Vissel Kobe in the last round.
Gwangju’s Albanian winger Jasir Asani currently leads the tournament scoring charts with nine goals, and Lee understands that his players must remain focused throughout the quarter-final if they wish to advance.
“Every minute, every second is crucial for us,” he noted. “The match could last around 100 minutes, and this is our opportunity to showcase our style to the world.”
“Tomorrow’s match is a do-or-die scenario. One team will emerge victorious, while the other will be eliminated.”
Al Hilal approaches the encounter amidst a patchy spell of form, prompting Jesus to manage the expectations of the club’s demanding fanbase.
“We recognise that this Gwangju side is formidable, having shown strong performances and possessing forwards with great potential,” stated the seasoned Portuguese coach. “We will be facing a well-organised team.”
“We have analysed their previous games and are aware of the intricacies of our opponent. It’s clear they are a strong outfit, which will certainly make the match more challenging.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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