Jinan: Coach Mano Menezes has warned Shandong Luneng against underestimating Buriram United ahead of Tuesday’s AFC Champions League Group F meeting at Jinan Olympic Sport Centre after the Thailand champions suffered a heavy defeat in last week’s Group F opener.
While China’s Shandong were beating J.League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-1 in Japan last week (pictured) thanks to goals again from Yang Xu and Diego Tardelli to make the ideal start to their AFC Champions League campaign, Buriram succumbed to a 6-0 home defeat by Korea Republic’s FC Seoul.
But even with Wang Yongpo returning from suspension following his red card in Shandong’s play-off win over Australia’s Adelaide United, Menezes’ has urged cautions despite his side seeking a fourth consecutive win at the start of the year after also earlier beating India’s Mohun Bagan.
“We've completed our preparation of the second round of the ACL. We have prepared for a difficult game, we want to entertain our fans, and of course, winning is always our target,” said Shandong coach Menezes.
“I think in football attacking and defending are integrated. Attacking football is very popular and it shows respect to our rival, we will certainly do it. But what I want more is to control the game. Now my players are gradually getting there. I want them to attacking with organisation and in the meantime be defensive to the opponents' counterattack. We have to work as a whole, and work on attacking and defence together.
“I think we have a chance to win under the condition of being well organised. We can't be blindly optimistic. They lost the first game by a big margin, but that was accidental.
“Last game we won it without Wang Yongpo and the rest has worked well. We respect Buriram very much, though they are missing some players, but they are still a strong team.”
Buriram captain Suchao Nutnum will, though, be suspended for the trip to eastern China after his sending-off in their heavy loss to FC Seoul.
And Buriram coach Alexandre Gama will also be without Brazilian striker Diogo who was substituted after just 17 minutes in last week’s AFC Champions League opener.
“We did well against FC Seoul until we lost Diogo. We've been seeking alternative solutions for him for the Shandong match,” said Gama.
“We lost by a big margin last time and now we will be without two talismans. So this time, we have to make changes in our formation and tactics to fight for a positive result.”
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