Asian Champions League: Javier Aguirre warns Al Wahda ‘have no choice but to win’ against Persepolis

Iran’s Persepolis stand in the way of Al Wahda as they look to get back to winning ways in ACL following loss to Qatar's Al Rayyan.

Al Wahda manager Javier Aguirre. Mona Al Marzooqi/ The National

ABU DHABI // Javier Aguirre, the Al Wahda manager, is faced with another “tough game” against Iran’s Persepolis in the Asian Champions League on Tuesday at the Al Nahyan Stadium.

Wahda lost 2-1 away to Qatar’s Al Rayyan in their Group D opener last week and need a win to keep their hopes alive of going beyond the group stage.

“It will be a very, very tough game at home also because we are coming after a defeat in Qatar,” Aguirre said.

“Now it is crucial for to win these three points. We are playing at home against a very good team, who are capable for running for 120 minutes if necessary.

“They run, run and run never stop at all and have a very good coach in Branko [Ivankovic], who used to work here in Wahda and knows how it works here.

“We have a full side and all are in the best of shape.

“They all are pumped up and want to get those three points and want to give their fans lots to cheer. If we want to stay alive in the group, we have no choice but to win.”

Persepolis were held to a 1-1 draw by Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia and arrived in Abu Dhabi with similar ambitions of returning with the three points.

“I had excellent season at Wahda and still cherish those good memories,” said Ivankovic, who managed the Abu Dhabi side in 2012/13.

“I know some of the players during my time at Wahda – like Ismail Matar and Hamdan Al Kamali – and [Sebastian] Tagliabue was my player [at Al Ittifaq] in Saudi Arabia. First, I know Wahda because I have watched five of their recent games. Unfortunately, I knew only two players when I was at Wahda.

“Now there are a lot of young players and some excellent foreigners like [Jorge] Valdivia, Balazs [Dzsudzsak] and Tagliabue.”

Ivankovic has left out two of his key players for disciplinary reasons but insisted his team are travelling at full strength.

Ramin Rezaeian, the defender and Ali Alipour, the forward, are the players left behind.

“This is something that’s not unusual in clubs,” Ivankovic said when asked for the reason to leave them behind.

“It depends on the situation and reaction, and the atmosphere within the team. That’s what I have done.”

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