Al Hilal's Eduardo, Milesi set sights on ultimate Asian club prize
Riyadh: The 2017 AFC Champions League has lured some of the biggest names in South American football.
Brazilians Ramires, Alex Teixeira, Oscar, Hulk and Colombian striker Jackson Martinez are just some of a long list of luminaries who have set the competition alight this season.
Yet none have headlined the 2017 edition more prominently than Al Hilal’s Brazilian import Carlos Eduardo and Uruguay’s Nicolas Milesi (pictured above).
The South American pair have been instrumental - grabbing nine goals in 12 matches - in the West Asian side’s impressive run to the final where they will face Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds.
Looking ahead to their first leg at home against the Japanese side on November 18, the duo have every intention to extend their rich vein of form.
“It won’t be easy against Urawa and as we have seen throughout the season, they have performed very well.
"This will be my first AFC Champions League final and personally, I have been very impressed by the intensity and level of competition. But we are confident we can bring the trophy home,” said Milesi.
Echoing his teammate, Eduardo (pictured below) added: “Since I arrived here, I can say with some confidence that this is the best team we have had since. Every one of these players is fully committed to winning this trophy for our fans.”
The bond shared between the two players off the pitch is undeniable. On the pitch however, the duo possess two contrasting styles and approaches.
Eduardo - the attacking-minded playmaker with a keen eye for goal, while Milesi - the combative, tough-tackling engine in midfield. Together, though, the pair have forged a lethal and telepathic partnership.
“I know his style of play, when he will make the runs, and how to find him in space. He is a fantastic talent for us.
"It certainly helps a lot that you have someone like Carlos who you can rely on to perform on the big stage. We are very proud to have him in our team,” added Milesi.
Repaying the compliment, Eduardo shared, “Milesi has added stability in our midfield. He is an excellent reader of the game and his ability to break the opposing attack is one of the main reasons we are a different team this year.”
Individual brilliance aside, Milesi was quick to salute the sense of unity in the dressing room, which has clearly transcended onto the pitch.
“From the moment I arrived, along with the rest of my teammates, they have done everything to make me feel welcomed.
"When I was injured earlier this season, the main reason why I was able to find my form so quickly was in a big part due to the strong team spirit that exists in this team,” said Milesi, who joined Al Hilal from Uruguay’s Danubio last year.
“We are a closely-knit group and ultimately, we know we can trust and rely on each other when we are out on the pitch. If you look at our performances this year, we have dominated possession in all our games.
“We understand each other very well and it is all down to the strong team spirit. This will be our main advantage over Urawa.”
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com
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