Tokyo's Head Coach Hasegawa Wary of Shenhua's Local Talent
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QMMF to host FIA Qatar International Rally 2021 in January PAGE 15 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2020 Tokyo’s head coach Hasegawa wary of Shenhua’s local talent AFC DOHA FC Tokyo head coach Kenta Hasegawa has brushed off sug- gestions his side are favour- ites against an undermanned Shanghai Shenhua FC, saying the Chinese club’s local play- ers will mount a genuine chal- lenge in Tuesday’s 2020 AFC Champions League clash. With star imports Gio- vanni Moreno and Kim Shin- wook unlikely to feature, Shenhua will require strong performances from their do- mestic players in the crucial Group F Matchday Three tie, but Hasegawa refuses to take Choi Kang-hee’s injury-hit squad lightly. Speaking ahead of his team’s first AFC Champions League outing in nine months, the To- kyo boss said his side would need to be at their best to retain the unbeaten start to the compe- tition they began in February. “Of course, without the Japan’s FC Tokyo and China’s Shanghai Shenhua will play at the Education City Stadium at 1pm on Tuesday. ability of these foreign play- ers, maybe (Shanghai) have top level, and we are represent- reduced factors in the team,” Standings Group F ing the J League, so we want to said the former Japanese in- CLUB P W D L GF GA GD PTS play as normal, as FC Tokyo. ternational. Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR) 2 1 1 0 4 2 2 4 We won’t change anything.” “We pay lots of attention in FC Tokyo (JPN) 2 1 1 0 2 1 1 4 While FC Tokyo are set to the AFC Champions League, Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN) 2 1 0 1 3 4 -1 3 sample their first ever taste where especially Chinese teams Perth Glory (AUS) 2 0 0 2 1 3 -2 0 of club football in West Asia, have very good foreigners, and Choi Kang-hee’s men will em- famous foreign players, but we bark on their third match in also pay attention to the do- of a successful return. Champions League we have Doha in the space of a week FC Tokyo head coach Kenta Hasegawa. mestic players of the Chinese. City Stadium. While Shenhua have al- long distance travel. When we when they take the field on “They are very strong and With four points from ready won and lost in Doha, go to Australia, for example, Tuesday. “For this game we still ro- but most important for this skillful players in their own two matches – one more FC Tokyo have arrived fresh to we have more than 10 hours of A two-time AFC Champi- tate some players, but as the team is for our players to re- right, so I don’t see there is a than Shenhua – two games a centralised tournament for- flying, but we don’t have this ons League-winning boss with head coach and as players, we cover as quickly as possible. big factor of change for the in the next four days against mat which Hasegawa believes in a centralised competition. It Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, still have to try our best to win “The schedule is here, and game tomorrow.” the Shanghai club will go a can benefit his team. means we feel less stress. Choi confirmed he will make the game,” said Choi. we have to accept it. We lost Despite the respect he long way towards determin- “It’s an unusual situation, “I understand that there has significant personnel changes “We’ve already analysed the last match, and we are holds for his next opponents, ing the 2020 AFC Champi- but it’s the same situation for been a very good effort from the from Saturday’s disappoint- the data and the videos of FC in a difficult situation in this Hasegawa was clearly the ons League destiny of both the other team,” he declared. staff to have this tournament ing 3-1 loss to Ulsan Hyundai, Tokyo. We have to make a group. As a team we just have more optimistic boss ahead of clubs, and the FC Tokyo boss “The good point is that, and we appreciate that. Asian calling on his charges to push strategy which blocks out their to prepare the best we can and Tuesday’s clash at Education appeared quietly confident normally if we’re in the AFC football is developing to the through any fatigue. important attacking players, try to win this game.” Security standards approved by AFC, FIFA being fulfilled: LOC China’s Beijing FC will clash with Australia’s Melbourne Victory at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium at 1pm on Tuesday. Strength in depth key for Beijing FC’s QFA nation with the security com- DOHA mittee, which includes all the security authorities in order THE Local Organizing Com- Qatari security officials to provide the highest levels Genesio against Melbourne Victory mittee (LOC) of the AFC along with the presence of of security for delegations and Champions League East Zone overseas experts are working teams from participating clubs AFC that we started with a vic- the heavy fixture schedule. We competition,” said Kean. has affirmed that all security in coordination at all places and media professionals from DOHA tory, and now against another are fortunate to have everyone “We have psychologically matters related to the tourna- where security is needed the moment of their arrival. strong team, we need to focus available for selection.” turned the bubble situation ment are proceeding following The security detail involves BEIJING FC head coach on trying to win. We need to On the other side, Mel- into an opportunity to gel the international standards ap- 24×7. Our standards are looking after players, officials Bruno Genesio is keen for all try to win every game and aim bourne Victory assistant and get to know each other proved by the AFC and FIFA. high. All of this is helping us and delegations from the mo- members of his squad to con- to qualify to the next stage.” coach Steve Kean’s positive at a more human level. And a In a statement on Monday, prepare for the 2022 FIFA ment they land at the Hamad tribute to a successful 2020 “I will make some changes, outlook was amplified by his centralised tournament helps Director of Security for the World Cup. International Airport and then AFC Champions League cam- not all the same XI will play hope that the Australian side us prepare and focus on every LOC of the AFC Champions when they are taken to the paign ahead of their clash all the time. We have to worry can play well and progress to game without having to worry League, East Zone matches, Jassim Al Kaabi, Director, hotels, the match venues and against Melbourne Victory in about the risk of fatigue and the next round. about more travel before each Jassim Al Kaabi pointed out Security, LOC AFC Champions training facilities. Group E on Tuesday. injury. The schedule is tight, “It is early for us in the game and hopefully we can that security work teams were League, East Zone matches Al Kaabi said the event’s The Chinese Super League and we have to be cautious. season, so we are just coming continue and progress in the formed before the start of the security apparatus is working side have a 100% record so far, It is important for us to have together but we are looking competition. competitions, as coordination about the trying circumstances on a template approved by the winning two from two and a everyone on board because of forward to doing well in this “Beijing FC are a strong took place at the highest levels we find ourselves in because of AFC and FIFA. third win in a row could put club coming off the back of to get the tournament in the the COVID-19 pandemic. This Al Kaabi said: “Qatari se- them at arm’s length from a strong season. We are at a best organizational form. represents a challenge, but we curity officials along with the their chasers at the halfway Standings Group E slightly different stage of our Al Kaabi said: “We have are dealing with everything presence of overseas experts point of the group stage. CLUB P W D L GF GA GD PTS preparation, but we have a previously worked in the AFC appropriately.” are working in coordination “It is always hard to pre- Beijing FC (CHN) 2 2 0 0 3 1 2 6 good feeling that we are assem- Champions League matches The Director of the Secu- at all places where security is dict how opponents will play FC Seoul (KOR) 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3 bling a good squad with players of the West Zone and we had rity confirmed that the cham- needed 247. Our standards with the current circumstanc- Melbourne Victory (AUS) 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 3 who have stayed here from last great success. We are follow- pionship operations had been are high. All of this is helping es,” said Genesio. Chiangrai United (THA) 2 0 0 2 0 2 -2 0 season and are building some- ing the same formula for suc- merged with the security au- us prepare for the 2022 FIFA “It was important for us thing strong together.” cess. Of course, we are careful thorities in the state in coordi- World Cup.” Sports Tuesday, November 24, 2020 13 orld Cup Qatar 2022 w A W rience ill b FIF ial expe for fans e pec : Eto a s ’o Inside view of the Khalifa International Stadium – one of the eight state-of-the-art venues for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – during the FIFA Club World Cup 2019 final.