ACL QF (2nd leg): Esteghlal preview

AFC – BURIRAM, Club legend Amir Ghalenoei insists Iran champions Esteghlal are driven by a strong desire to claim a record-equalling third continental title ahead of Wednesday’s AFC Champions League quarter-final second leg against Thai Premier League leaders Buriram United.

Esteghlal claimed a fortunate 1-0 win in last month’s first leg in Tehran thanks to Khosro Heydari’s second-minute strike before goalkeeper Mehdi Rahmati maintained the lead in the second half at the Azadi Stadium.

Ghalenoei’s side did suffer a 2-0 domestic defeat by Zob Ahan last week prior to making the trip to Thailand, but the former Iran coach is confident his side will remain on course to add to the Asian Club Championship titles won in 1970 and 1991 and join Korea Republic’s Pohang Steelers as the only three-time continental champions.

“We lost our last game against Zob Ahan and we can’t forget that but Zob Ahan played better. We didn’t have all our players available due to injury and suspension, but now we have all our players available,” said former Esteghlal midfielder Ghalenoei, who is in his third spell in charge at the club.

“We have improved over the last few days and the players have been able to mentally and physically recover and we are ready.

“We have very strong desire to be champions of Asia.”

Esteghlal arrived in Thailand at the weekend in time to see Buriram, under recently-installed coach Spanish Alejandro Menendez, remain five points clear at the top of the Thai Premier League with a 2-0 win over BEC Tero Sasana.

“We came to Buriram earlier due to the time difference and also the distance between Iran and Thailand. We feel for every hour of time difference we must arrive one day earlier. Now I feel we have adapted to the conditions and we are ready to play,” added Ghalenoei.

“In the quarter-finals every match has two halves. We won the first match in Tehran 1-0, but I think the most important half is the second leg.

“We know that Buriram are a good team, and even though their coach has changed their plan has not changed. They have good midfielders and good strikers and we will look to disrupt this connection.

“Our aim in Tehran was not to concede a goal, now our goal is to score a goal.”

Buriram welcome back defender Theerathon Bunmathan from suspension after he missed the first leg and Ghalenoei knows his side must pay particular attention to the attack-minded left-back.

“We know Buriram have good players,” he added. “The number two (Theerathon) is dangerous when he attacks, but we have plans for all players. He plays on the left and he is one of the best left- footed players.”

Defender Amir Hossein Sadeghi, meanwhile, is well aware Esteghlal must produce a better performance on Wednesday having rode their luck during the first leg last month.

“In the first leg we scored early and because of that our plan changed, but we did not play well,” he said.

“But over the last week few weeks we have trained well and we want to score a goal to qualify for the next stage.”