Lee Man coach Jordi Tarres said his side were going into their AFC Champions League qualifier against Bali United on Wednesday full of confidence, even if they are considered underdogs.
Victory would leave the Hong Kong team one win from reaching the group stage of the continental competition, and Tarres said he had put his players through their paces over the past several weeks.
“We had quite a long preseason in South Korea to prepare for our first competitive game,” Tarres said. “We know it’s not going to be easy but we will try our best to go as far [in the tournament] as possible.”
The 42-year-old Spaniard is no stranger to the competition, having played for Kitchee in the tournament several times, and as a result knows the demands that will be placed on his side at Hong Kong Stadium.
“The demand for these matches is super high, it doesn’t matter if you’re a player or a coach,” Tarres added. “Bali United have some fast players and they are good with counterattacks, but as I said, we’ve prepared well and so we are confident enough.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Tuesday, midfielder Ngan Lok-fung said the team was looking forward to the the winner-takes-all encounter.
“It’s our first Champions League match after all,” the 30-year-old said. “It may be a preliminary match but it is all the same for us.
“This is going to be a difficult tie, and with the speed they have, which is much faster than the average of the local league, I believe it is crucial for us to get into the game, and get used to their pace as soon as the match starts.”
If Lee Man, who finished as the league runners-up last season after managing only a 2-2 draw with eventual champions Kitchee on the final day of the season, get past their Indonesian opponents they face an equally tough test next week.
The winners of Wednesday’s game will travel to Japan to take on Urawa Red Diamonds, who have won the Champions League three times, in the final play-off round on August 22.
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