Guangzhou Evergrande midfielder Huang Bowen believes experience of winning the AFC Champions League can be the key to propelling the Chinese Super League champions to the final ahead of their meeting with Japan’s Gamba Osaka on Wednesday.
In a clash of former champions of the continental competition, Huang is one of seven players that lifted the trophy for the Southern China Tigers in 2013.
In comparison, only three Gamba players remain from their triumph in 2008.
“The experience of taking part in the 2013 AFC Champions League semi-final and final can give our players confidence and I hope such confidence will play an important role in the semi-final,” said Huang.
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“Gamba are a tough team and the semi-final is going to be difficult,” added Huang ahead of tonight’s game at Tianhe Sport Centre Stadium.
“It is imperative we stay focused, have faith in our performance, and I believe the most important factor in securing victory is teamwork.”
Guangzhou are in ominous form, having not lost in any competition since the end of May.
For Gamba, striker Takashi Usami is back after a one game suspension and he is convinced Osaka’s fighting spirit can help them overcome Guangzhou.
“The team is definitely in a good mood now, and we have continuously had matches where we play hard until the last minute and this has given us a lot of confidence to fight until the end,” said 23-year-old Japan international Usami.
