Gamba Osaka have been participating in the group stage of the 2016 AFC Champions League (ACL), and are to meet Shanghai SIPG, who are leading group G. The coaches and the players from the both teams appeared at a press conference prior to the game and expressed their aims.

Coach and Players' Comments

HASEGAWA Kenta, Coach (Gamba Osaka) 
If we cannot win this game, the situation may become tough for us depending on other results. Although Shanghai SIPG is an excellent team, as we are playing at home, we’d like to earn a victory tomorrow by showing our strength. Asamoah GYAN will not play tomorrow. Despite his absence, Shanghai SIPG once beat Suwon, and substituting players also tend to play harder. So I believe Gyan’s absence does not make much difference to us. I think it’s vital that we score goals to win.

KONNO Yasuyuki (Gamba Osaka) 
Although we still have three matches in the group stage, I’d like to focus on tomorrow’s game for now. I’d like to play with a strong spirit to earn three points. One of the most important things that we need to take care of tomorrow is the forwards, Conca and Elkeson, who are individually very strong. We must keep our eyes on them and defend solidly as a united team.

Sven Goeran Eriksson, Coach (Shanghai SIPG) 
I hope the team prepares enough. We haven’t got too many problems so far, except missing Asamoah Gyan due to injury. The other players are all in good condition. So I believe we’re ready. As Gamba Osaka is a good team, I expect tomorrow’s game will be tough. Having said that, we’ll do everything we can to earn a victory. I look forward to a great game tomorrow.

In the 2002 World Cup, I came with the England National Team to play against Nigeria. I stayed in Kobe back then. It’s wonderful to come back here and I’m very glad to see all the friendly staff again. Osaka is also a great city with beautiful trees and flowers. I do hope that we will play well to get a good result tomorrow.

WU Lei (Shanghai SIPG) 
As the coach mentioned, as a player I very much look forward to tomorrow’s game. An away game tends to be more difficult than a home game. Gamba is an excellent team, who knows how to work together. However, we believe we are strong. I’d like to play hard to get a good result tomorrow. We could strike goals in the qualifiers of the World Cup, and we are in good condition. So I hope we play in the same way to keep scoring goals.

AFC Champions League 2016

27 January 2016 - 26 November 2016

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