Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
Shabab Al Ahli will chase a place in the AFC Champions League Elite final when they face Japan’s Machida Zelvia in the semi-final at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah on Tuesday evening.
With matches played on neutral territory, Shabab Al Ahli are disadvantaged because they were the latter side to make it to the last-four stage compared to their opponents.
Manager Paulo Sousa chose to focus much on the game though: “We will only start preparing for the match today because yesterday was about recovery. We know Machida are one of the most competitive teams, but we will dream and fight to win this game,” said the coach of the team who are one step away from reaching the final like in 2015.
His counterpart Go Kuroda also played down the extra day of rest his side enjoyed compared with their Emirati opponents, insisting that any fatigue would disappear once the match kicked off.
“For us, this (to reach semi-finals) was the first challenge when we came to Jeddah,” said Kuroda. “We played against a high-level opponent (Al Sadd SC) and managed to advance. We are so pleased.
“We are here to win the tournament so we don’t want to lose. Yes, we have an advantage from a schedule perspective. But this is the semi-final, both teams will expect a high-quality match and as soon as the game starts, the players won’t feel whatever lethargy they were feeling before.”
Shabab Al Ahli also had it tough in the quarter-finals, needing a goal in extra time to overcome Buriram United 3-2 on Saturday. The ADNOC Pro League champions present a stern test for the Japanese debutants, having scored six goals in their two matches.
Sousa said he was proud of his young squad’s progress but stressed the job was not yet finished. “I’m very content that we are one of the best four teams in the continent, this is a great pride,” said Sousa. “But we are not done yet, we still want to go further.
“Our presence in this tournament makes us very proud, particularly as we have young players with at least 10 of age 22 or less who have played [against Buriram]. They have developed well, which makes the coaching staff very proud."
Sousa, a self-confessed admirer of Japanese football, highlighted the tactical discipline and counter-attacking threat posed by Machida Zelvia.
“Machida plays as a cohesive unit, both individually and collectively across all lines. They also possess a fast attacking force, and I am personally a fan of the fast-paced, tactical Japanese style of football, which also boasts tactical and defensive discipline,” he said.
“We know we will be facing a team strong on the counter-attack, a tactic they have used to decide important matches. This necessitates caution from my players, and Shabab Al Ahli players must be highly inspired in creating and converting opportunities.
“Machida qualified as group winners in the East, and their coach knows exactly what he needs for each match. Reaching this stage isn’t a coincidence; it means they’re a well-organised team with excellent players in every position. We have to fight for every ball against the Japanese team.”
If Shabab Al Ahli have been heavy among goals, the Japanese coach expressed confidence in the defence, which has kept clean sheets in six of Machida’s 11 matches in the competition.
“Through the J-League to this tournament,” Kuroda said, "we have built a strong defensive ethos where we have kept clean sheets and that builds confidence in the players. Our opponents are physically strong and have speed, but I expect us to deal with them properly.”
Shabab Al Ahli are appearing in the semi-finals for the second time in their history, having previously reached that stage in 2015. Machida Zelvia, promoted from Japan’s second division only two-and-a-half years ago, continue their remarkable debut campaign in the competition.
The match kicks off at 8:15pm UAE time.
