Jantscher latest arrival as Kitchee learn AFC Champions League fate

Kitchee revealed another heavyweight signing to strengthen their hopes in the AFC Champions League, with the draw for the 2023-24 competition made at the regional governing body’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

Austria international and Sturm Graz star Jakob Jantscher will become part of the set-up for the Hong Kong champions when they feature in group F alongside two-time winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of South Korea, Lion City Sailors of Singapore, and Bangkok United of Thailand.

It is believed the 34-year-old striker, who played for his country in the Uefa European Championship in 2016, will finish playing for his club this weekend before arriving in Hong Kong next week, giving him ample time before Kitchee’s first group stage away match against Jeonbuk on September 19.

Jantscher also played for the Austrian side in the third round of Uefa Champions League qualifying last week where they lost to PSV Eindhoven of the Netherlands 3-1 at home, and 7-2 on aggregate. He was brought on for the last 10 minutes of the match and hit the woodwork in stoppage time.

“We are happy to have such a classy new player and I watched the video footage of his shot that hit the post in the match against Eindhoven, great style,” head coach Alex Chu Chi-kwong said.

“He may need some time to get acclimatised to the conditions here but his arrival will definitely help the team with his vast experience and exposure in top-class football.”

Damjanovic prefers to remember good times as Kitchee row rumbles on

Jantscher also played for Austrian giants Red Bull Salzburg in his home country for three seasons from 2010 to 2013, scoring 20 goals in 65 appearances. He was the Player of the Year in the Austrian Football Bundesliga in the 2021-22 season with Sturm Graz, and also featured in the league’s Best XI that season.

AFC Champions League rules allow teams to field a maximum of six foreign players in a match, and Chu remained upbeat Kitchee can find a place for Jantscher.

The coach, however, was cautious about their prospects in the competition, although the three other teams in their group are not unfamiliar.

“We met Jeonbuk when we made it to the main round of the Champions League for the first time in 2018 before losing to them 9-0 on aggregate, including a 6-0 humiliating defeat at home,” Chu said. “But over these years we have become more familiar with the cup tie format and have got the know-how to deal with these top teams from the region.

“We played Bangkok United in our preseason last month and lost 3-2 which was a very close match while we are no strangers to Singaporean football. Our player Kim Shin-wook was with [Lion City Sailors] before joining us. Both teams have some very good foreign players and cannot be underestimated.

“The good thing of having these three teams in the group is we don’t have to spend a lot of time travelling and the weather is not difficult for us.

“But the Champions League will return to the home-and-away basis this time, unlike before with the tournament format.

“We still have to worry about the domestic competition as we may have to play three matches in 10 days and this is going to be a great challenge to the players, physically and mentally.”

Kitchee play home rivals Lee Man on September 16 before travelling to South Korea for their Champions League opening game against Jeonbuk three days later, and Chu said he would have to formulate a plan to prepare the team for the two crucial matches.

Only the top teams from the 10 groups will advance to the next round of the Champions League, along with the three best teams from each of the East and West regions.

“Jeonbuk should be the strongest side in the group and the three others are chasing the second spot,” the coach said.

“Even if we can finish second in the group, we still have to achieve a better result than two other second-placed teams in other groups. It’s not easy. We’ll see.”