Kashima Antlers coach Oswaldo de Oliveira realises his side face a difficult task when they face Jeonbuk Motors at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Asian Champions League Group F tomorrow night.
The J.League side, who will be without injured Korean defender Lee Jung-soo, are looking to build on the opening 1-0 victory over Changchun Yatai against the Korean champions.
"It goes without saying that Jeonbuk are a strong team. I think that as title-winners, they have some excellent players. It should be a very good game," Oliveira said.
"Lee Dong-gook, Lovrek, Choi Tae-wook, Eninho and Luiz Henrique and others are players with a lot of ability but rather than worrying about stopping others play, we will focus on playing our own style."
Jeonbuk coach Choi Kang-hee believes the encounter will go a long way to deciding his side's fate following their 4-1 win at minnows Persipura last time out.
"Our target in this competition is to win and in order to do that, this game in a very important one," said Choi, who led Jeonbuk to the 2006 continental title.
"They have a lot of good players and have a settled and balanced team. They are in good form but we are improving all the time. Whichever team is in the best condition at the time will be able to get the win."
Changchun Yatai host Persipura with coach Shen Xiangfu, who is missing experienced midfielder Du Zhenyu with a foot injury, stressed the importance of the Chinese side getting their campaign up and running.
"It goes without saying that we are eying maximum points in our first ACL game at home this season," he said.
"I am not only chasing a good result, but also expecting a good performance by my players."
Shen is also convinced that despite the defeat in Japan last time out, his side still have the potential to qualify for the last 16.
"We played good football in Kashima," he added.
"We are not inferior to them. My players should try to regain their confidence and I am quite confident that Changchun have the ability and power to challenge the Japanese and Korean teams."
The freezing conditions in Changchun will be a new experience for Persipura but coach Jacksen Tiago is confident his side can cope with the elements.
"Changchun is much colder than the coldest place in Indonesia," he said.
"But we are fully prepared. We have our own way to adapt to the weather conditions here."
"It goes without saying that Jeonbuk are a strong team. I think that as title-winners, they have some excellent players. It should be a very good game," Oliveira said.
"Lee Dong-gook, Lovrek, Choi Tae-wook, Eninho and Luiz Henrique and others are players with a lot of ability but rather than worrying about stopping others play, we will focus on playing our own style."
Jeonbuk coach Choi Kang-hee believes the encounter will go a long way to deciding his side's fate following their 4-1 win at minnows Persipura last time out.
"Our target in this competition is to win and in order to do that, this game in a very important one," said Choi, who led Jeonbuk to the 2006 continental title.
"They have a lot of good players and have a settled and balanced team. They are in good form but we are improving all the time. Whichever team is in the best condition at the time will be able to get the win."
Changchun Yatai host Persipura with coach Shen Xiangfu, who is missing experienced midfielder Du Zhenyu with a foot injury, stressed the importance of the Chinese side getting their campaign up and running.
"It goes without saying that we are eying maximum points in our first ACL game at home this season," he said.
"I am not only chasing a good result, but also expecting a good performance by my players."
Shen is also convinced that despite the defeat in Japan last time out, his side still have the potential to qualify for the last 16.
"We played good football in Kashima," he added.
"We are not inferior to them. My players should try to regain their confidence and I am quite confident that Changchun have the ability and power to challenge the Japanese and Korean teams."
The freezing conditions in Changchun will be a new experience for Persipura but coach Jacksen Tiago is confident his side can cope with the elements.
"Changchun is much colder than the coldest place in Indonesia," he said.
"But we are fully prepared. We have our own way to adapt to the weather conditions here."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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