We’re Ready to Beat Al Ittihad, Oliveira Says
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran's Tractor Sazi football team coach Antonio Jose Conceicao Oliveira said his men are ready to beat Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia in the AFC Champions League.
Iran’s Tractor Sazi will host Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday in Iran's northwestern city of Tabriz’s Yadegar-e Emam Stadium in Group C.
“Al Ittihad has won the AFC Champions League titles twice in 2004 and 2005 in its 87-year history but we are ready to defeat the team,” Oliveira said in the pre-match news conference.
“In my opinion, Lekhwiya of Qatar will qualify for the next round as the first team and the other three teams in the group have to try for second place,” the 67-year-old Portuguese added.
“Tractor Sazi has been drawn in a tough group. Lekhwiya has nine foreign players and Al Ittihad has also the foreign players. We could defeat the teams with their own players, but with the foreigners, things will be different,” the former Al Ittihad coach added.
“The fans have to enjoy watching a football match, because football is like a party. We have trained well over the past days and we’re ready for the match,” Oliveira declared.
