Kashima Midfielder Doi Confident of Winning AFC Champions League Title
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Kashima Antlers midfielder Shoma Doi believes they are capable of winning the AFC Champions League for the first time.
On Saturday, the Japanese team will host Persepolis of Iran in the first leg of the 2018 AFC Champions League final.
"I really believe this will be Kashima's year for the AFC Champions League. We have never won the AFC Champions League title, so winning this Asian championship would mean a lot to everyone," Doi said.
"Not just in the semi-finals, but throughout the past year we’ve had many tough matches," said the 26-year-old, who was part of the side that came back from 2-0 and 3-1 deficits in the first and second legs respectively against Korea Republic's Suwon Samsung Bluewings.
"In both legs against Suwon we had to come from behind and, no matter the situation, we have great belief in what we've been able to do."
"We got together during the second leg of the semi-final against Suown and we spoke about that belief in ourselves. That really helped us overcome the adversity we faced in the match. And I’m sure it will looking ahead to the final," Doi concluded.
