AFC Champions League 2: Eastern ‘cannot compare’ with Japanese opponents, says Losada
J1 League leaders Sanfrecce Hrioshima face Eastern at Mong Kok Stadium this week after Hongkongers’ away loss to Sydney in opening game
Roberto Losada acknowledges his Eastern team could be in for a torrid night when they host Japanese giants Sanfrecce Hiroshima in an AFC Champions League 2 clash on Thursday.
Eastern were beaten 5-0 by Sydney FC in their opening group fixture a fortnight ago, but head coach Losada said the meeting with Sanfrecce had the potential to be “even worse”.
Nonetheless, he said, coming up against the continent’s finest players was providing invaluable experience for his enviable collection of bright young Hong Kong talent.
From a coaching standpoint, Losada said, his challenge ahead of tackling Sanfrecce, who are top of the J1 League with six games remaining, was “mostly psychological”.
“You have to let the players know the reality, which is that we are worse than [Sanfrecce],” Losada said. “We cannot compare with them, it is very difficult, but that is fine.
“The big step for us would be to get a little bit closer to their level. The experience of these matches for our young players is very valuable.
