Downheaerted Dragan Determined to Lift Crestfallen Foolad

AFC – AHWAZ, Downhearted Dragan Skocic will take his Foolad side into their meeting with Lokomotiv Tashkent on Tuesday targeting a morale-boosting win despite seeing his side exit the 2015 AFC Champions League on Matchday Five.

The Iranians missed out on one of the two berths in the Round of 16 from Group C as a result of their loss against Qatar’s Al Sadd two weeks ago, but the Croatian suggested his side’s scoreless draw against Al Hilal on Matchday Three was the turning point for their ambitions.

“I am so sad that I step into a match which we don’t have a chance of next-round qualification,” said Skocic. “We lost our chance when our match against Al Hilal resulted in a draw. But we will play good football and hopefully we will win.

“Although we have a limited number of players, I am sure that the fans are going to see some good football.”

Foolad go into the game without having won at all so far in the 2015 campaign and having scored just once, a disappointing return for a team that reached the Round of 16 last season.

Their domestic form has also suffered, with the club in fifth place in the Iran league as their defence of the title flounders following a 0-0 draw with Malavan last Friday.

Lokomotiv Tashkent are in third place in Group C but, like bottom team Foolad, have no chance to advance with Al Hilal and Al Sadd locking up the two berths in the next round in the previous round of matches.

Despite their situation, former Uzbekistan national team coach Vadim Abramov will send his team into the game looking for all three points.

“This match is no different to the others,” he said. “We have 11 players who are ready and we will play to our full potential.

“Foolad is a good team. Sometimes misfortune can have an effect on the results of a team and this will cause some teams to drop points.”

Abramov will welcome back defender Islom Tukhtakhujaev, who missed the loss to Al Hilal due to suspension on Matchday Five, as he seeks to shore up a backline that has one of the worst defensive records in the tournament.

The veteran coach, however, feels the performances of all the Uzbek clubs in the 2015 AFC Champions League have been hampered by the schedule of the national team.

“We have many players who play for the national team as well,” he said. “This has an impact on their performance in the clubs. Of course, the time schedule of our league is not suitable.”