The 2015 AFC Asian Champions League kicks off this week. Here's a quick preview of the West Asian side of the draw with Group B; including Uzbek champions Pakhtakor, Saudi Cup holders Al-Shabab, Emirati galacticos Al-Ain and Iranian domestic leaders Naft Tehran.
Team: Pakhtakor
Country: Uzbekistan
Manager: Samvel Babayan (UZB)
Key Man: Jamshid Iskanderov (UZB)
Given the rise of Uzbek football, the fact that Pakhtakor
ran away with the Professional Football League title suggests they are worthy
challengers to the ACL crown this year. Their comprenstive victory can be
attributed to a fresh squad coming of age at the right time. Impressive
playmaker Jamshid Iskanderov has shown flurries of his exciting talent, while
fellow Uzbek international Igor Sergeev has goals in him to worry any defence
in the tournament. Three group stage exits in a row doesn’t provide too much
hope this time around, as doesn’t the amount of preparation going into the
tournament. The Uzbek season returns in late March after a long Winter break,
leaving Samvel Babayan with it all to do in anticipation of the ACL kick off.
Team: Al-Shabab
Country: Saudi Arabia
Manager: Jaime Pacheco (POR)
Key Man: Rafinha (BRA)
After an impressive 2014, Al-Shabab go into the new year
in mixed form and eagerly looking for a new spark. After starting the year in
the mix for the title spots in the Saudi Pro League, last season’s Cup victors
Shabab have fallen off the boil and have yet to pick up three points since the
league kicked back into gear. Star striker Naif Hazazi hasn’t recovered from a
luckless Asian Cup campaign with the national team, while the Park Chu-Young
experiment was cut short early after numerous ineffective displays. Rafinha
remains Shabab’s most likely source of creation, but more must stand up if they
are going to make it out of what is a pretty tough group.
Team: Al-Ain
Country: United Arab Emirates
Manager: Zlatko Dalić (BIH)
Key Man: Omar Abdulrahman (UAE)
It can be argued that Al-Ain are the most glamorous side
in West Asia, boasting a number of highly paid stars quite capable of
succeeding on the European stage. It makes you wonder what happened last term,
considering Al-Ain made a decent fist continentally they struggled so
much in the Arabian Gulf League. A last gasp Cup victory helped them to ACL
qualification, and from there, their form has gone from strength to strength.
Joint leaders at present, spurred on by the attacking trident of Asamoah Gyan,
Miroslav Stoch and Jires Kembo-Ekoko, Ain possess one of the strongest
attacking set-ups in the league, in direct opposition to their leaky defence. A
return from injury to newly tied down Omar Abdulrahman is yet another
spectacular addition to one of this year's ACL favourites.
Team: Naft Tehran
Country: Iran
Manager: Alireza Mansourian (IRN)
Key Man: Alireza Beiranvand (IRN)
The
ACL will truly assess the credentials of Iran’s currently form outfit who have
gained plenty of admirers after a riveting first half to the Persian Gulf Pro
League season. Naft Tehran possess some of West Asia’s finest young players from goalkeeper
Alireza Beiranvand to attacker Amir Matahari, however the loss of promising
midfielder Pouraliganji to the Chinese Super League may prove detrimental to
Naft’s second half of the season. Already slipping slightly in the league,
their title pursuit looks a little fragile at present. A solid ACL campaign
which started with an impressive playoff victory over Qatar’s El Jaish could
reignite their charge.
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