Al Ain playmaker Kaku says his team need to believe they can turn around the Asian Champions League final in two weeks’ time, stressing that home support in the second leg could drive the club to a second continental title.
The UAE side were beaten 2-1 by Yokohama F Marinos in the first leg at a packed Yokohama International Stadium in Japan on Saturday, despite the visitors taking an early lead through Mohammed Abbas.
Al Ain conceded twice in a 12-minute spell late in the game, meaning they have it all to do at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on May 25 if they are to clinch the trophy. Champions in 2003, and as such the only Emirati club to capture the crown, Al Ain have twice since finished runners-up, in 2005 and 2016.
Speaking to The National after Saturday’s narrow defeat, Kaku said: “In the first half we played very well, but the second half was completely different. We had to just concentrate a little more.
“It’s normal, though. The first half we run a lot, we pressured, and the second half, Yokohama changed the players. But we need to stay calm, stay with confidence. We play in our home with our fans – it’s completely different there. I believe in my team.”
Almost 54,000 fans filled the stadium on Saturday night – the large majority of which, understandably, were cheering on the home side. Their support paid off in the end, with Asahi Uenaka equalising in the 72nd minute and Kouta Watanabe deflecting a shot past Khalid Essa six minutes from time. Competing in their first Champions League final, the Marinos had never previously been beyond the last 16.
However, Al Ain will point to their impressive home form in this season’s tournament: they have won all but one of their six matches, including defeating Saudi Arabian heavyweights Al Nassr and Al Hilal in the two previous rounds.
“It’s different: it’s summer, our fans pressure [the opposition] so much, the pitch is close to the fans,” Kaku said. “But we need to play with confidence and stay together. Believe. Only believe. And a good result will come.”
Asked about the mood among the Al Ain players directly after the first-leg loss, the Paraguayan said: “A little sad, but we need to stay confident, we need to stay together in this moment. We can get a good result in our home.”
Teammate Park Yong-woo, who like Kaku played the entirety of the opening encounter, added: “It was a tough game; Yokohama played very well. The first half, we were aggressive and defended very well. We have the power, we blocked them, but in the second half we had less stamina. It was difficult for us.
“It’s very important to have the second leg in Al Ain. Our stadium is very strong, all our fans support unbelievably. We can win in our home.”
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Al Ain keeper Khalid Essa shakes hands with the Yokohama F Marinos players at full time in the Japanese side's 2-1 victory in the AFC Champions League final first leg at the Yokohama International Stadium, on Saturday, May 11, 2024. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Al Ain manager Hernan Crespo and Yokohama coach Harry Kewell shake hands at full time. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Yokohama manager Harry Kewell. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Soufiane Rahimi of Al Ain battles with Shinnosuke Hatanaka of Yokohama. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Mohammed Abbas of Al Ain celebrates his goal. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Khalid Al Hashemi, centre, and his Al Ain teammates shake hands with the Yokohama players at full time. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Kota Watanabe of Yokohama celebrates after scoring their winner. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Kota Watanabe of Yokohama, second left, celebrates after scoring their second goal. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Kota Watanabe of Yokohama celebrates. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Mohammed Abbas of Al Ain celebrates with teammate Soufiane Rahimi after scoring their opening goal against Yokohama F Marinos. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Asahi Uenaka of Yokohama F Marinos heads to score their opening goal. Getty Images -
Asahi Uenaka, right, of Yokohama F Marinos celebrates with teammate Nam Tae-hee after scoring their first goal. Getty Images -
Al Ain's Mohammed Abbas scores Al Ain's first goal. Reuters -
Kaku of Al Ain battles with Nam Tae-hee of Yokohama. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Soufiane Rahimi of Al Ain battles with Eduardo of Yokohama. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Al Ain manager Hernan Crespo during the game. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Al Ain fans before the first leg against Yokohama F Marinos. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Matias Palacios of Al Ain scores the team's second goal, only to see his strike later disallowed after a VAR review. Getty Images -
Matias Palacios of Al Ain celebrates after scoring the team's second goal, which was chalked off by VAR. Getty Images -
Ain's Emirati goalkeeper Khalid Eisa punches the ball clear. AFP -
Yokohama F Marinos' Taiki Watanabe and Al Ain's Soufiane Rahimi battle. AP -
Al Ain's Emirati goalkeeper Khalid Essa makes a save. AFP -
Al Ain's Emirati midfielder Mohammed Abbas attempts an overhead kick. AFP -
The teams come on to the pitch before kick-off. Chris Whiteoak / The National
