#360view: Daring Al Ain can knock down Jeonbuk fortress

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  • Jeonju is a city known by few and visited by even less. The 90-minute train journey down from the glaring neon lights of sprawling Seoul takes you on a journey into the ‘real South Korea’.

    Its charming centre is detailed by narrow side streets, while the necessity of Google Translate becomes obvious immediately upon arrival. Yet this hidden gem – currently cloaked in inclement weather – is about to play a major role in Al Ain’s history as they attempt to set the platform for a second AFC Champions League success.

    The cliche about UAE teams states they wilt under such expectation. This was reinforced last month as the national team, containing six players from Saturday’s combatants, were humbled by a devastating 3-0 loss in Saudi Arabia whose effects have rippled out far beyond just the immediate damage to hopes the ‘Golden Generation’ will fulfil their destiny and reach World Cup 2018.

    Yet the Boss have made a point of defying this stereotype throughout their latest quest to become continental kings. They must strive to prove their fortitude once again in the opening stanza versus Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, the dominant force in Korean football during the past decade.

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    Certainly, there was no lack of belief on show from coach Zlatko Dalic in Friday’s pre-match press conference.

    Real conviction was in his voice when he talked lyrically of playing “to be champions, for glory, for history”, while his tight grip on the trophy and confident smile in the photo call with taciturn opposite number Choi Kang-hee was revealing.

    The route to a first final appearance in 11 years has been an arduous one. To get there, the challengers from the Garden City recovered from a worst-ever start to their group campaign and required salvage jobs on the road during the round of 16 and quarter-finals.

    Helped along by superstar Omar Abdulrahman’s vivid 2016 and seemingly inevitable coronation as AFC Player of the Year, they should come into the two-legged showpiece imbued with confidence. This is in contrast to this weekend’s hosts.

    A dark cloud has been cast by a punishment for bribery– related to a grave misdemeanour 2013 – which necessitated a nine-point deduction in the K-League Classic and the eventual loss of the title to FC Seoul two weeks ago.

    We will find out in the next week whether this damaging experience has either galvanised Choi’s squad, or sucked the fighting spirit from them. What is definitely quantifiable is that the 2006 ACL winners and now three-time finalists possess players of enviable talent.

    Ex-Brazil youth international Leonardo has been one of this edition’s standout performers, playmaker Kim Bo-kyung is enlivened after an unfulfilling spell in England and nuanced centre midfielder Lee Jae-sung is tipped to follow the legion of exports from his country to Europe in the immediate future.

    They have also won five and drawn one of their preceding home fixtures during this year’s competition, turning the creaking Jeonju World Cup Stadium into a fortress.

    The portents of success are made even worse by the fact East Asian clubs have exerted a stranglehold on the ACL trophy since Al Sadd of Qatar held it aloft five years ago.

    But battling the odds has become Al Ain’s forte. Another test of their fortitude awaits ahead of next Saturday’s decider at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. It is one they cannot fail.

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