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Wednesday, 10 February 2010

World News Asian Champions League Final Preview

Sepahan coach Luka Bonacic is looking forward to what could be the biggest day in the club's history when they face Urawa Reds in the first leg of the AFC Champions League final.

The Hazfi Cup holders have overcome their underdog status to become the first Iranian team to reach the final of Asia's premier club competition but Bonacic is looking for his players to raise their game once again when they take on the Japanese league and cup double winners at Foolad Shahr Stadium.

"It is a great, great day in the history of the Sepahan club as we are playing in the final of the AFC Champions League," said Bonacic.

"We are feeling very relaxed because just for our team to get to the final is already a big step for us.

"But there is a saying that if you go to Rome and you don't see the Pope, then it's no good. So because we are in the final, we must try to win this cup."

The match against Urawa marks the second time that Sepahan have faced Japanese opposition in this season's competition following their quarter-final clash against Kawasaki Frontale.

Having seen his side outplayed over two goalless matches by last season's J.League runners-up before eventually prevailing in a penalty shoot-out, Bonacic expects an even tougher encounter against the reigning J.League and Emperor's Cup champions.

"Urawa are the best club in Japan and they have an excellent team and a very good German coach.

"They are in first place in the J.League and they are the champions. They have better finishers up front with Washington, who has scored 15 goals, and (Tatsuya) Tanaka, who has 11."

Midfielder Hadi Jafari is suspended after picking up two yellow cards in the knockout stage but the Iranian side will have the services of Iraq international forward Emad Mohammed, who returns from national team duty.

"We need him because he is a very good player and I think that he can help us," Bonacic added.

Urawa will be missing a pair of key men with skipper Nobuhisa Yamada out after tearing a calf muscle and centre-back Marcus Tulio Tanaka sidelined due to a thigh strain.

Reds coach Holger Osieck insists the team will be able to cope without the missing pair.

"It will not interfere with our tactics because these players have not been involved in our last couple of games," said the German.

"We are not worried about anything. We are just focusing on this game now and our preparations."

While Sepahan may have been fortunate to get past Kawasaki Frontale in the quarter-finals, Osieck still has plenty of respect for the Iranian side.

"They are very strong," said Osieck, who has not seen his side face west-Asian opposition on their run to the final.

"We managed to get some information about them, in particular when they played against (Kawasaki) Frontale in the quarter-finals.

"I think they put on two decent performances in those game and for a team to reach the final, it definitely means something.

"From my point of view, there's definitely a lot of quality in the Sepahan team."

Copyright (c) 2009 Press Association

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