Ramón Díaz eyes convincing home victory in first leg of Champions League final
Riyadh: Boasting an unblemished record, there is little more Al Hilal could have done in setting up their an epic contest with Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds in the 2017 AFC Champions League final.
Unbeaten in 12 matches, the last time the continent witnessed such a formidable run was when Ulsan Hyundai clinched the 2012 edition, though the Korea Republic side played one match less in the older format.
In final opponents Urawa, however, Al Hilal head coach Ramón Díaz concedes that his charges will face their most daunting challenge yet.
“Urawa are a fantastic side. They have a very talented group of individuals and no team reaches this final by accident. They have shown they deserve to be at this stage of the competition.
“They are dangerous as a collective, with a well-organised backline and as we have seen in this competition, they can be very deadly in attack.”
His Japanese opponents enter their first final in a decade as the competition’s highest scorers, snatching a staggering 28 goals in 12 matches.
Perhaps the more frightening statistic is the Reds’ ability to stage classic comebacks, twice overturning two-goal deficits at home – first in the Round of 16 against Jeju United, before repeating the feat against their Japanese counterparts, Kawasaki Frontale in the quarter-finals.
The Argentinean however is looking at his side’s own strengths for inspiration and has singled the first-leg at home as a golden opportunity to advance firmly ahead.
Citing a similar strategy deployed in the semi-final clash against Islamic Republic of Iran’s Persepolis, the former Paraguayan head coach adds that the first-leg performance was a definitive moment that forced the continent to sit up and take notice.
Widely regarded as the clash of the titans, the Saudi side turned the seemingly close encounter into an onslaught, settling the two-legged tie well beyond the Iranians with a 4-0 victory in the first-leg in Muscat, Oman.
“It has been a fantastic competition, no doubt,” remarked the River Plate legend who will be gunning for a second club continental title, having won the Copa Libertadores with the Argentina giants in 1996.
“But if you ask me, that first match against Persepolis was our best match so far. To me, it was the key moment everyone in the continent knew Al Hilal are here to win this competition. That performance is precisely what we are aiming for in the first leg at home.
“There is still plenty of work ahead of us,” he added. “Finals are always special of course, but it is also dangerous because there is so much at stake and emotions can run high.
“But there is a desire and a sense of belief among my players. Our fans have been fantastic this season and we want to make them proud.”
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com
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