Asian Champions League: Kitchee happy to take on former Barcelona star Andres Iniesta and his Vissel Kobe side

Hong Kong club have decamped to Thailand from pandemic hit Hong Kong as they prepare for next month’s top tier regional club competition

Vissel Kobe won a play-off against Melbourne Victory to book their place in group J, which also features Chiangrai of Thailand and Shanghai Port

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Andres Iniesta of Kobe Vissel celebrates in the match against Melbourne Victory after opening the score on six minutes. Photo: AFC

Published: 4:30pm, 16 Mar 2022Updated: 10:42pm, 16 Mar 2022

Hong Kong champions Kitchee will be looking forward to meeting star player Andres Iniesta’s Vissel Kobe after the J-League side confirmed their qualification for the Asian Champions League group stage.

Kobe beat Melbourne Victory 4-3 in a thrilling playoff game on Tuesday, and booked their spot alongside Shanghai Port, Chiangrai of Thailand and Kitchee in Group J of the region’s top club competition.

And the ex-Spanish international, who joined Kobe from Barcelona in 2018, is still the man to watch despite being 37 years old.

Kobe Vissel players in the match against Melbourne Victory for qualifying to the Asian Champions League group stage. Photo: AFC

“He is still a classy player even if he is playing in Asia’s top club competition,” Chu Chi-kwong, Kitchee’s head coach, said. “He always orchestras the attack from midfield with his vision and no one can underestimate him although he is not young any more.

“It will be a great opportunity for your boys to play against him in the Champions League.”

Iniesta, who scored his side’s opening goal after just six minutes on Tuesday, played 115 minutes before he was replaced, with five minutes of extra time remaining.

The Kitchee coach however said Kobe were not a one-man team as they also have other star players with a better quality.