SYDNEY, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai Shenhua F.C. head coach Wu Jingui said he's overwhelmed by the amount of support his team has received in Australia, ahead of Tuesday's Asian Champions League match against Sydney F.C. at Allianz stadium.
"We saw our supporters at Shanghai Airport on Sunday when we left for Sydney and also at Sydney Airport welcoming us," he told Xinhua on Monday. "Even now when we drove from our hotel there were fans waiting for us at the gate. It means a lot to see so many fans far away in a foreign country and we're very touched by this, that's why we have to play well tomorrow; for our fans!"
While the visitors are out of contention to make the round of 16 in the tournament, Wu feels it will be a "good opportunity to give a few young players a chance," especially now that Nigerian superstar striker Obafemi Martins has been ruled out for a number of months with a hamstring injury. It is likely that Colombian talent Giovanni Moreno will start the match, with the classy midfielder looking to stay in top form ahead of this year's World Cup in Russia.
When the two teams met back in February, Shanghai held the Sydney siders to a gripping 2-2 draw at home.
But this time the 'Sky Blues' will be throwing everything at the visitors, with their chances to progress still alive as long as they win and Japan's Kashima Antlers overcome South Korea's Suwon Bluewings in the corresponding group H match.
The fixture will kick off at 20:00 (AEST).
