DOHA (Qatar): Pakhtakor head coach Shota Arveladze said his side need to convert more chances ahead of their fixture against reigning champions Al Hilal SFC in Group B of 2020 AFC Champions League on Thursday.
“We did not change much in our programme following the previous game,” said Arveladze.
“It was mostly recovery and preparation to face Al Hilal again. We know each game is different, and we cannot do the same thing in each game. We cannot keep wasting the chances we get, and we are here to prove we can compete at the highest level.”
A Sebastian Giovinco free-kick and a last-second strike from substitute Hattan Bahebri sealed a 2-1 win for Al Hilal on Monday as Pakhtakor were reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of keeper Eldorbek Suyonov for handling the ball outside of his area.
But with two victories from their first two games, Pakhtakor could still pip Al Hilal to the top of the group with a two-goal margin win, and if Shahr Khodro manage a win against Shabab Al Ahli Dubai in the other Thursday match, the Uzbek League champions could have a foot and a half in the Round of 16.
“We have quality at the back and up front, and we are determined to come out with the three points.” (Source: AFC)
