DUBAI: Former Al-Hilal coach Laurentiu Reghecampf has backed his old club to end six years of Eastern monopoly over the Asian Champions League when they take on Urawa Red Diamonds in the 2017 final.
Reghecampf, 42, guided Al-Hilal to a runners-up spot in 2014, suffering a painful defeat to Australian underdogs Western Sydney Wanderers as his team were repelled time and again in a 0-0 second-leg draw in Riyadh.
And the Romanian boss believes that the image of Western Sydney’s team lifting the trophy at the King Fahd Stadium will be etched in the minds of the players who remain at the club, providing the perfect motivation to make amends this time around.
“There are a number of players who have the experience of playing the final from 2014, Reghecampf told AFC.com. “We had a wonderful group of players; I can’t speak highly enough of them. The foreign players they have now are excellent and can help them win the final.”
Six players remain at Al-Hilal from the 2014 final, with Yasser Al-Shahrani, Salem Al-Dawsari, and Salman Al-Faraj all featuring in the last-four victory over Persepolis.
Reghecampf will be cheering on those former charges and he believes that Al-Hilal are well equipped to take home a third continental title, putting them level with South Korea’s Pohang Steelers as the most successful Asian club side ever.
“Al-Hilal have a very good squad. In football, everything is possible, and I am sure the players have the desire to win,” he said. “I saw that desire when I was coaching Al-Hilal. I am very happy that they reached the final again and I hope they win.”
The ex-Al-Hilal boss, who is currently coaching in the Arabian Gulf League with Al-Wahda, experienced many memorable nights in Riyadh and he feels the home crowd could be the difference between winning and losing this time. “The pressure will be massive with over 60,000 fans at King Fahd Stadium. Al-Hilal have reached the final and lost but this will work as an extra motivation for the players to win on Saturday.”
Much of that pressure will lie on the shoulders of Omar Khribin, who has been Al-Hilal’s star performer in this season’s competition, netting nine goals to propel his side to the final.
And the Syria striker recognizes the threat posed by Urawa Red Diamonds, who won the Asian Champions League in 2007, beating Iranian side Sepahan.
“Urawa are a team of equals, they don’t just rely on a few good individuals,” Khribin said. “From attack to defense, they work as a unit. Against Shanghai [in the semifinal], they did an excellent job at containing the main threats.”
Despite the obvious talent of Al-Hilal’s opponents, Khribin is confident that he will emerge on the winning side in the biggest club game of his career so far.
“Every player on this continent dreams of playing in the final,” he said. “I am pleased with my club form this past year but victory against Urawa will be my greatest achievement yet. Everyone is focused on the title and we believe that this year the trophy belongs to us.”
