Tianjin Teda coach Zuo Shusheng said his team was ‘very serious’ about getting a result against the Central Coast Mariners when the clubs battle for some Asian Champions League pride at Gosford on Tuesday night.
The Mariners and Tianjin are both out of contention to reach the competition’s knockout stages after a series of disappointing results.
But Shusheng declared his players were fully prepared to take on the Mariners at Bluetongue Stadium.
The teams had an entertaining 2-2 draw when they met earlier in the competition in China.
“The result of the game doesn’t matter but we will be very serious about this game and fully prepared,” Shusheng said.
“Central Coast is a very strong team. At our home ground it was very difficult to get a draw with them. They play a high tempo game and are very powerful.”
“It will be a hard match but we will try to present an exciting match. We will play some young players.”
Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna said the match was ‘vital’ for his team.
The Mariners are still to win a match this year and need a confidence-boosting performance to lift morale.
McKinna has been forced into several changes with strikers Dylan Macallister, Matt Simon and Nik Mrdja all injured.
Adrian Caceres will start up front with Adam Kwasnik with Matthew Osman and Nigel Boogaard returning from suspension.
Osman is a foundation player at the Mariners but will link with new franchise Gold Coast after Tuesday’s match.
“He’s been one of our most consistent performers,” McKinna said of Osman.
