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Al Hilal SFC head coach Ramon Diaz expects nothing but the best from his side while his counterpart Maciej Skorza promised a brave and determined Urawa Red Diamonds when the two sides clash in the first leg of the AFC Champions League 2022 final at the King Fahd International Stadium on Saturday.
At stake is becoming the first team to win the AFC Champions League title for the first time and both coaches said they had full faith in their respective teams in what will be a third final between the two sides in six years.
Diaz, denied by Urawa in the 2017 final, said Al Hilal will unleash their best before their fans as they are determined to win the title for the third time.
“We are very proud to have reached this stage again. We are the defending champions and the players are in a very good mental state. We have the capabilities and excellent players and we are ready to win the AFC Champions League for the third time.”
“I want to tell the fans that we are ready, we have prepared very well and the players have been extremely focused and are determined to deliver tomorrow,” said Diaz.
The Argentine said he was not worried about being denied the AFC Champions League title again by Urawa.
“I never look back at previous matches and it is a coincidence that we are playing Urawa again. Our target remains the same irrespective of the opponents – to win the title.”
“That is our mission and we have to get a good result to take to the return leg,” said Diaz.
Urawa’s bid for a third title was denied by Al Hilal in the 2019 final and head coach Skorza said his players are determined to deliver this time around.
“It is a very special moment for us. It is a very important game, we are here to get a result. We have been preparing for a long time and are ready to achieve a good result as it is a 180 minute final, not 90,” said Skorza.
It will be the Polish tactician’s first AFC Champions League match, having taken charge of Urawa from Ricardo Rodriguez last November but Skorza said he had confidence in his players being able to challenge Al Hilal.
“Al Hilal are a very strong team, very experienced and did very well in the FIFA Club World Cup. However, once the first whistle is blown, nobody will remember past results.”
“I believe in my players and their discipline. I demand from my players a performance which will give us a result here. A good result means playing with bravery, not defensively as this is not our style. We would like to score goals here but keeping tactically disciplined will be the key element.”
“We have to be prepared to face a different style of play from what we are accustomed to in the J League and Al Hilal have many players who are very good offensively. Our strategy will be to defend as a team.”
