Staff writer, Dubai

The head coach of the Japanese football team Urawa Red Diamonds, which lost to Saudi side Al-Hilal SFC in the first leg of the 2019 AFC Champions League final on Saturday, has said he is not “overly worried” and that his team needs to prepare well for the return leg in Saitama.

“Al-Hilal may have dominated but the match ended 1-0. We played this game with an aim and I think we finished it with a result that gives us a realistic chance to fight in Saitama,” Tsuyoshi Otsuki told AFC.com.

According to Otsuki, Urawa will need to improve in the second leg, scheduled for November 24, especially as Al-Hilal had near total control of the match. The Saudi club had 70 percent possession during the match.

“We will definitely have to improve our possession but as I said, this is just the first half and we still have another match to play,” Otsuki said.

Speaking about the performance of his goalkeeper, Haruki Fukushima, Otsuki said he did everything that we expected of him. “Fukushima had a fantastic match and proved himself time and again,” said Otsuki.

The two teams head back to Japan aware that a historic third AFC Champions League title is still within reach for the hosts. “We still have a chance and we will work hard to make sure we produce our best in the return leg,” Otsuki said.