Currency rates from 28/11/2024
$1 – 12848.38
UZS – 0.22%
€1 – 13512.64
UZS – 0.31%
₽1 – 120.07
UZS – -1.79%
Search
Sports 04/05/2009 Asia priority for Ettifaq’s Andone
Bunyodkor logo
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Ettifaq coach Ioan Andone has revealed he turned down offers to coach in Europe, preferring instead to lead the Saudi side in their ACL campaign which continues against Bunyodkor on Tuesday.

“My main concern is to qualify with the team to the next stage of the AFC Champions League,” said the Romanian.

“I have received a lot of offers to coach different teams in Europe but my mission is to help Ettifaq now.”

Ettifaq head into the game on top of Group D with nine points and will qualify should they take all three points at Prince Mohammed Bin Fahad Stadium although the Dammam side could also still progress even if they lose should Sepahan fail to beat Al Shabab on Tuesday.

Andone will be without suspended first-choice goalkeeper Hussain Shaian however, but the Romanian coach insists he and the players are fully focused on the task at hand.

“Our main target is to get the three points in order to seal our place in the second stage of the competition.

“The match against Bunyodkor will be very hard because they are also looking to qualify from the group also.

“We take nothing for granted and we are go into all our matches with a serious attitude.

“If we win this match then we can secure our place in the next stage and only after winning this game we will be comfortable.”

Bunyodkor arrived in Dammam on Sunday and will be keen to carry then fine domestic form onto the continental stage in a bid to secure their place in the next stage of the AFC Champions League.

The defending Uzbek league champions notched up their eighth win in as many matches in the domestic league with a 1-0 win at Shurtan recently.

“We have prepared for the game against Ettifaq very well because it is an important game for us,” said coach Khikmat Irgashev.

Stay up to date with the latest news
Subscribe to our telegram channel