Kitchee ready to shed underdog status in first AFC Champions League challenge

Kitchee will be looking to shake off their underdog’s tag when they attempt to extend their record-breaking run in the Asian Champions League in Japan on Friday against Thailand’s BG Pathum United.

The Alex Chu-coached Hong Kong Premier League champions are the first team from the territory to reach the knockout rounds of the continental championship but face a stiff challenge to advance to the quarter-finals when the teams meet at Komaba Stadium in Urawa.

“I hope our players can seize this good opportunity because this is the first time for a Hong Kong team to arrive at the knockout stage in the Asian Champions League, so that’s why I hope our players can do well in tomorrow’s game,” Chu told reporters on Thursday.

“Even though BG Pathum United is quite a strong team, we will do our best and we look forward to going further.

“We’re ready to play a hard game. I saw some video and BG Pathum United are a very strong team and the Asian Champions League is a different level because any team can play with very good foreign players and high quality players. It’s very different.”

Due to the Hong Kong Premier League’s enforced shutdown as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak earlier in the year, Kitchee go into the game having not played competitively since the 2-2 draw with Japan’s Vissel Kobe in April that secured their place in the Round of 16.

The club embarked on a two-week preseason stint in South Korea prior to their arrival in Tokyo on Monday and go into the game buoyed by their previous performances against Thai opposition in the competition.

Kitchee recorded a win and a draw against Port FC in last year’s group phase before notching up a pair of victories over Chiangrai United at the same stage of this year’s tournament as the club advanced to the knockout rounds.