“Do not underestimate them.” Riyad Mahrez’s message to Al-Ahly players in the AFC Champions League final

Veteran Algerian international striker Riyad Mahrez said that his Saudi Al-Ahly team achieved “something incredible” by reaching the final of the AFC Champions League elite football competition for the second season in a row, but he warned his teammates against underestimating their competitor Machida Zelvia of Japan, the newcomer to the tournament, when they meet for the title on Saturday (20:15 UAE time) in Jeddah.

Al-Ahly, which won its first continental title 12 months ago at the expense of Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale, enters the final for the second time in a row against a Japanese competitor and is a favorite to win, especially since it is playing the match at home at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
But Mahrez reminded the Asian champions that nothing is guaranteed, especially after Machida’s remarkable journey towards the final.
Mahrez said during the press conference on Friday in Jeddah on the eve of the match: “I am very happy to be in the final again, for two years in a row, on our home soil and among our fans. We are very much looking forward to the match.”
The 35-year-old added: “It is important for everyone not to take it for granted, because reaching the AFC Champions League final two years in a row is something incredible. But in the end you have to play the match tomorrow, and you have to win it. We will do everything we can to achieve that.”
Machida is participating in his first participation in the most important continental tournament at the Asian club level, and he did not concede a single goal in the three elimination matches he played in Jeddah, although his semi-final victory over Shabab Al-Ahly came in highly controversial circumstances, as the equalizer scored by the Emirati team in stoppage time was canceled out by a strange decision from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), before the AFC rejected a request to replay the match.
Mahrez, who also won the Champions League with Manchester City, said: “Since we played the final last year, this season we come with a little more calm and confidence. But that does not mean that we will not be extremely focused.”
He added, “It will be a very, very difficult match. (Machida) deserves to be here, and he took advantage of his opportunity 100%. “Every match we have played here since the round of 16 has not been easy. So we expect a tough encounter again tomorrow. But we are ready and we know what we have to do to win the match.”

“Show strength”
For his part, Al-Ahly’s German coach, Matthias Jaesle, said that the majority of his players are available to participate in the match.
He added: “I mentioned several times that being in the final again, for the second time here in Jeddah, is a great honor. We are very excited to play this final tomorrow. We are excited, and God willing, we will achieve victory as well.”
Machida aspires to become the ninth Japanese team to win the title, but he seeks to be only the second team to win the championship from its first participation, after the Australian Western Sydney Wanderers in 2014.
Machida coach Go Kuroda, who is making his first experience as a professional coach after 26 years of coaching school football, said: “The players felt something completely new on this field, and they want to carry this momentum to the final.”
He added, “Of course, this stadium will be full of fans of the home team. We are aware of that, and we will do our best not to be affected. We just want to show how strong we are as Machida Zelvia.”