Gamba Osaka coach Akira Nishino has called on his side to repeat the form and consistency of last season as they look to successfully defend their AFC Champions League title.
The defending champions are on the brink of the last 16 and Nishino wants further success as they prepare for tomorrow's Group F clash against Indonesian champions Sriwijaya.
He said: "The road to defending our title is still long but we know how to repeat our success," he said
"Our aim of course is to qualify at the top of our group and play the best football consistently.
"This is a long competition and one can only prevail if consistency is maintained and that is, in my opinion, the key to a success in this competition."
The Japanese side have picked up where they left off and their 5-0 destruction of Sriwijaya two weeks ago means they are the only team with maximum points after three games.
Nishino is not about to take the Indonesian side lightly, however, despite them not having yet taken a point and with his side poised to move into the knockout stages.
"I am taking this competition as it goes, match by match, and will not look beyond our next opponents, who will be difficult to beat on their home turf," said the Gamba boss.
Opposite number Rahmad Darmawan insists his side will be better prepared to face Gamba, saying: "This time we will be more prepared for Gamba and they can expect a tough battle if they want to get a win against us."
FC Seoul coach Senol Gunes has called on his side to improve following consecutive defeats.
Last year's K-League runners-up began their inaugural AFC Champions League campaign with a 4-2 win in Indonesia against Sriwijaya but have since slumped to a 4-2 home loss at the hands of Gamba Osaka and a 2-0 defeat at Shandong two weeks ago.
They host Chinese champions Shandong Luneng tomorrow knowing a failure to win could deal a fatal blow to their bid of reaching the knockout stage.
Gunes said: "These past games have showed that we our lacking in concentration. We need to sort this out and start showing what we are capable of.
"It is important that we win this game if we are to progress to the second round. At Shandong I thought we were the better team so it was frustrating to lose.
"At home we have to repeat the performance and get a good result."
Having bounced back from a 3-0 opening loss at Gamba to win their last two games, Shandong enter the match knowing victory could see them advance to the knockout stage for the first time since 2005.
However, coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic was reluctant to talk up his side's chances.
"We are fighting with Seoul for second place in this group and we are looking to win although it is going to be a tough and tight game," said the Serbian.
"Seoul are a team full of good players and there were impressive in China two weeks ago. I don't want to talk about their weak points and would prefer that we make use of those during the match."
He said: "The road to defending our title is still long but we know how to repeat our success," he said
"Our aim of course is to qualify at the top of our group and play the best football consistently.
"This is a long competition and one can only prevail if consistency is maintained and that is, in my opinion, the key to a success in this competition."
The Japanese side have picked up where they left off and their 5-0 destruction of Sriwijaya two weeks ago means they are the only team with maximum points after three games.
Nishino is not about to take the Indonesian side lightly, however, despite them not having yet taken a point and with his side poised to move into the knockout stages.
"I am taking this competition as it goes, match by match, and will not look beyond our next opponents, who will be difficult to beat on their home turf," said the Gamba boss.
Opposite number Rahmad Darmawan insists his side will be better prepared to face Gamba, saying: "This time we will be more prepared for Gamba and they can expect a tough battle if they want to get a win against us."
FC Seoul coach Senol Gunes has called on his side to improve following consecutive defeats.
Last year's K-League runners-up began their inaugural AFC Champions League campaign with a 4-2 win in Indonesia against Sriwijaya but have since slumped to a 4-2 home loss at the hands of Gamba Osaka and a 2-0 defeat at Shandong two weeks ago.
They host Chinese champions Shandong Luneng tomorrow knowing a failure to win could deal a fatal blow to their bid of reaching the knockout stage.
Gunes said: "These past games have showed that we our lacking in concentration. We need to sort this out and start showing what we are capable of.
"It is important that we win this game if we are to progress to the second round. At Shandong I thought we were the better team so it was frustrating to lose.
"At home we have to repeat the performance and get a good result."
Having bounced back from a 3-0 opening loss at Gamba to win their last two games, Shandong enter the match knowing victory could see them advance to the knockout stage for the first time since 2005.
However, coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic was reluctant to talk up his side's chances.
"We are fighting with Seoul for second place in this group and we are looking to win although it is going to be a tough and tight game," said the Serbian.
"Seoul are a team full of good players and there were impressive in China two weeks ago. I don't want to talk about their weak points and would prefer that we make use of those during the match."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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