AL AIN // Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors do not have to overcome “final phobia” to win the Asian Champions League, according to manager Choi Kang-hee.
The South Koreans, 2006 champions and then runners-up in 2011, go into the second leg of the showpiece on Saturday with a 2-1 lead against Al Ain after last week's first leg victory in Jeonju.
Prior to that match, Choi described every day since the 2011 final defeat — on penalties to Qatar’s Al Sadd — as “a nightmare” and said the pain from that loss would ensure his side seal the title this time.
However, the former South Korea national team coach, manager of Jeonbuk for both final appearances, insisted the memories of five years ago would not negatively impact his team for the second leg at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.
More from Asian Champions League final:
• Can Al Ain win? John McAuley looks at how the UAE side can become champions for a second time
• Zlatko Dalic: Al Ain's chances of claiming a second Asian Champions League crown are '50/50'
• Five lessons: Al Ain must learn from first leg defeat to prevail in second leg and become champions
“I’ll go into this game with the 2011 Champions League final in my mind, even though it’s almost six years ago,” Choi said. “That time we weren’t able to win the title, but I remember it well. Since then I’ve worked as the national team coach and have come back to Jeonbuk and won two league titles. But in 2016 we want to erase the bad memories of 2011.
“I do not have a phobia about the final anymore. I trust my team and they have prepared very well. There is a good atmosphere between the team, the staff and fans. We have prepared everything and trust each other. I trust my players to win the match.”
In the first leg, Choi assigned right-back Choi Chul-soon to man-mark Omar Abdulrahman, a ploy that worked initially until the Asian player of the year nominee began to exert a greater influence in the second half. However, Choi is confident he can shackle the Al Ain captain.
“Jeonbuk have already analysed his video clips so we know who he is and we know how to stop him,” Choi said. “We’re very clear about his skills, so we’ll stop him on the pitch with our players and our good team spirit.”
Asked about the importance of Jeonbuk finding the net on Saturday, Choi said: “If the away team scores it’s seen as a positive by the media, so if we score in tomorrow’s match it will be perfect for managing the game.
“Al Ain are a good team, but we have the players to deal with them. Even though we’re playing away from home it doesn’t matter. We have prepared for every outcome and we will claim the 2016 title.”
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