Off the wire
• Audi sales in China rise considerably in August  • China Focus: Big business springs from Tibet's fresh water  • Feature: Uganda strives to increase rhino numbers in face of extinction  • China to become world's first trillion-dollar aviation market: Boeing  • 1st Ld: China activates emergency response for Typhoon Meranti  • China-Laos anti-terror drill held in SW China  • Aid convoys waiting for green light to reach Syrians: UN body  • Boeing forecasts China will need 6,810 new airplanes in 20 years  • China likely to set new hybrid rice production record earlier  • Paris 2024 launches Tour of France to build on nationwide support  
You are here: 　 Home

Magath confident to lead Luneng into ACL semis

Xinhua, September 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

Coach Felix Magath believes that Shandong Luneng has what it takes to past FC Seoul in the second leg of their AFC Champions League (ACL) quarter-final on Wednesday evening at Jinan Olympic Sports Center.

After the first leg which the Chinese Super League team lost to the FC Seoul 3-1 in August, Luneng was in a place against all odds to reach the semi-final.

"It is good for us that we know the score and how many goals to advance into next stage," said German manager Magath of Luneng. "FC Seoul is definitely strong, and we will put everything needed to win. If we have a 1-0 lead, it will be wonderful for us to make the semis."

Luneng has had eight AFC Champions League outings, but its best performance was moving into the quarter-finals in 2005.

"I will send a strong team to beat FC Seoul tomorrow," said Magath, despite the suspension of Jin Jingdao and the injury to Liu Binbin.

"Every team will face problems like suspension and injury, but Luneng has enough players, so the starting list will be different. I am sure we will play a good match in both halves," Magath added.

Walter Montillo scored goals for Luneng in recent games, but he played down his role in a modest manner.

"My goals were resulted from the team work. We will try our best to win to make the next stage," said Montillo.

FC Seoul had two losses and one draw in recent three K-league games. Seoul and Shandong has met three times in this year's ACL, and Seoul has two wins and one scoreless draw.

FC Seoul head coach Hwang Sung-hong said Tuesday that his team will leave behind the past results.

"We're looking forward to the second leg, but it's hard to say whether we will play offensively or in a defensive manner," said Hwang. Endit