Radulovic uncertain over Ahmedov availability

AFC – TASHKENT, A question mark hangs over the availability of Pakhtakor skipper Odil Ahmedov when the Uzbeks face Sepahan in Group C of the AFC Champions League on Tuesday.

Ahmedov is nursing a slight injury and Pakhtakor head coach Miodrag Radulovic was refusing to divulge whether or not the influential 22-year-old Uzbekistan international will play as their ACL campaign reaches the halfway stage.

“There are small problems with squad and our captain, Odil Ahmedov, has a small injury and it is not known whether he will be on the field tomorrow (Tuesday) or not,” admitted Radulovic (pictured).

“Sepahan are strong enough contenders. I have attentively studied their two AFC Champions League matches but at the same time, I believe in the players and that we will win.”

Clubs from Iran and Uzbekistan are regular combatants in the AFC Champions League but clubs from Iran have not overcome their Uzbek rivals since Sepahan beat Neftchi in Fergana in 2004.

Pakhtakor were beaten 3-1 at home by Al Shabab in their last Group C game and that was followed by an opening loss to fellow AFC Champions League participants Bunyodkor in the Uzbek League.

However, confidence was restored with a 1-0 triumph over Dynamo with Milorad Janjus netting the only goal and with a testing schedule looming, Radulovic will have to utilise the full depth of his talented squad.

“Within the next week we are expecting three difficult games; two with Sepahan and one in Termez in the Uzbekistan Cup. Therefore, there will be a rotation of players in the squad,” he added.

“Compared to the Dynamo game, you will see at least two new players. It is good, when there is a competition for places in the side.”

And the Montenegrin also wants to see a much more disciplined performance than against the Saudis almost two weeks ago.

“Our defence from game to game is operating more harmoniously,” continued Radulovic.

“We will try to concentrate all our attention on not repeating errors in simple situations, where Al Shabab punished us. We are expecting difficult opposition, a strong contender but we look forward to the game with optimism.”

Meanwhile, Sepahan is looking for a first win in this season’s competition following consecutive draws with Al Ain and Al Shabab and head coach Amir Ghalenoei is hoping for luck to be on his side at Pakhtakor Stadium.

“We are looking only for victory and in our previous games we haven’t played badly but we just haven’t had the luck,” said Ghalenoei, who highlighted Ahmedov as Pakhtakor’s biggest threat.

“We have created many chances that we could not convert. Against Pakhtakor, we will try not to concede and to take three points.

Emad Mohammed is a fitness concern for Ghalenoei, who stressed his full focus is now on his side’s AFC Champions League campaign as they hold a healthy six-point lead with five games to go in the Pro League.

“We still believe that are capable of claiming first place in our AFC Champions League group,” he added.

“Now we give priority to the continental tournament and I have protected players for the match in Tashkent.”