Football
Hà Nội players train on December 5. They will play Urawa Reds Diamonds on December 6 in the last Group J match at the AFC Champions League. Photo Hà Nội FC
HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội FC hope to end the AFC Champions League group round with a win over Urawa Reds Diamonds at home today.
It is Hà Nội's last match in the competition as they have already been eliminated.
At a press briefing on December 5, coach Lê Đức Tuấn confirmed that Hà Nội would play their best to thank their supporters and make an impressive memory of Vietnamese football in the Asian competition.
"Hà Nội FC have played strong rivals from South Korea, Japan and China at this year AFC Champions League. All matches were lessons for us," said Tuấn.
"We will have to work harder in training so that my players can develop well for further international competitions."
However, Tuấn has problems ahead of the game as many of his players are injured and are not at their best fitness levels due to their packed domestic competition schedule.
Tuấn said he would rest several key players and give opportunities to young stars who are encouraged to show their best ability to compete for regular places in the future.
Coach Lê Đức Tuấn (second, right) and striker Joel Tagueu (second, left) of Hà Nội FC at the press briefing. Photo danviet.vn
Taking part in the press briefing, striker Joel Tagueu said his team prepared well to host the Japanese rival and hoped for a positive result.
"We beat Wuhan Three Towns in the previous match at home. We will do our best to take three points against Urawa Red Diamonds," said the Cameroonian.
"I did not play in those two games and it was sad that I could not help Hà Nội. But my target, and the team's, is three points. Hà Nội will fight for our honour. We want to have a win at the end of the group phrase."
On the visiting side, Urawa Red Diamonds assistant coach Rafal Janas and forward Jose Kante took part in the briefing at the Mỹ Đình Stadium.
Janas was quite cautiously talking about the rematch with Hà Nội.
He was happy as players were all free from injuries and ready for the match although they did not have much time preparing to play Hà Nội because the team had to play in the J.League.
The upcoming match would be much more challenging than their first meet in November when Urawa beat Hà Nội 6-0 at home. Playing at Mỹ Đình, Hà Nội's style and spirit would be different. But the Polish tactician still believed his side could win.
Urawa Red Diamonds assistant coach Rafal Janas (right) and forward Jose Kante are confident of a win at the Mỹ Đình Stadium. Photo danviet.vn
Spanish Kante said his team still had chance to go further in the tournament and recent wins would be a motivation for them to beat Hà Nội again.
Urawa Red Diamonds are currently at second place in Group J and the defending champions have to wait until all group round matches end next week to know if they could make the knockout stage as the best second-placed team.
In other match of the group, Pohang Steelers of South Korea which are on top ranking place, will play Wuhan Three Town of China, which are third and eliminated. — VNS
OVietnam