Persepolis Strong at Home, Japanese Coach Says
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Japan national team head coach Hajime Moriyasu believes Kashima Antlers has to maximize home ground advantage if it wants to win the 2018 AFC Champions League title, because Persepolis is very strong at home.
The Japanese club will host Iran's Persepolis in the first leg in Ibaraki on Saturday.
"As a Japanese, I desperately want Kashima to win the AFC Champions League final but I have to admit that Persepolis are worthy opposition and they too have an equal chance of winning," said Moriyasu.
Both teams will be playing in their first AFC Champions League final.
"Kashima and Persepolis are both teams with illustrious histories and they both want to add the AFC Champions League title to their names. That’s why Kashima must take advantage of playing the first leg at home.
"They must aim for a resounding win and in saying that, it is also important that they do not concede as Persepolis is very strong when playing at home," added Moriyasu, who took charge of the Japanese national team after the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
"Winning at home is very important for Kashima as Persepolis is a very strong team with good individual players. If Kashima can do it, I am confident that it will emerge champion, even though the second leg will be very difficult," Moriyasu said.