FC SEOUL HAVE AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DNA - CHOI

Coach Choi Yong-soo believes FC Seoul’s “AFC Champions League DNA” will hand last year’s finalists the decisive edge against fellow K-League Classic side Pohang Steelers in this month’s quarter-final.

FC Seoul secured a fourth quarter-final appearance in six years after edging out Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in the last 16 having won Group F ahead of J. League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima despite several high-profile departures following last year’s final defeat by China’s Guangzhou Evergrande.

And while the loss of captain Ha Dae-sung and Montenegrin striker Dejan Damjanovic to the Chinese Super League ahead of the start of the 2014 season may have contributed to a so far disappointing domestic campaign, FC Seoul will take on reigning domestic champions Pohang looking to become Korea Republic’s fifth consecutive tournament semi-final participant.

“FC Seoul has AFC Champions League DNA. The experience of reaching the final round in AFC Champions League last year remains an important strategic asset for us. We got more experience than inconvenience, so it became strong motivation for us and it was also an opportunity to bring the team together,” said Choi.

“Pohang have proven that they have excellent teamwork in the K-league. Seoul and Pohang have played many matches previously in the K-league and AFC Champions League and the matches between both teams have always provided lots of fun for the fans, so we are working very hard to play a good game.”

Having lost last year’s thrilling final on away goals to Guangzhou, FC Seoul picked up just one win in the first nine fixtures of the 2014 league season

But coupled with solid progress in the AFC Champions League, FC Seoul have been able to drag themselves away from the bottom of the K-League Classic table which included a goalless draw with high-flying Pohang at The Steelyard in July following the FIFA World Cup break.

“Indeed, we were sluggish during the process of change at the beginning of the season, but we are slowly getting back into shape and reaching the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League will hopefully help us improve further,” said Choi.

“We have encountered several changes during this season. We underwent trial and error at the beginning of the season, but every player has adapted to these changes and we will show our own character.

“It is very hard to be playing in two leagues at the same time, but if we maintain the best condition and do our best, we will be able to satisfy our fans.”

FC Seoul will travel to The Steelyard on August 20 for the first leg of their AFC Champions League quarter-final before the second leg takes place in the Korean capital a week later, with either defending champions Guangzhou or A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers waiting in the semi-finals.

And veteran full-back Cha Du-ri, a member of the FC Seoul side beaten in the 2013 continental showpiece by Guangzhou, is adamant that he and his team-mates are “mentally stronger” for the experience and now better prepared for the 2014 tournament’s latter stages.

“Though we finished runner-up in the AFC Champions League we learned many things including how to respond to different situations which has made us an improved side,” said the Korea Republic international, who started in the return leg of last year’s final at Tianhe Stadium after missing out the opening tie in Seoul through suspension.

“Although the result obviously left something to be desired, the experience from last year should certainly be beneficial in helping us advance past the quarter-final stage.

“We are fully committed, once more, to the challenge of becoming AFC Champions League winners, and we are stronger mentally than last time and believe we can achieve our goal.

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