‘A significant number of cars damaged during last week’s rains may not be covered for natural disasters such as flooding’
But the CONCACAF champions have a chance to rewrite that when they take on a club which is making their second appearance at the showpiece.
Pachuca, nicknamed ‘Los Tuzos,’ take on African champions TP Mazembe in the quarter-finals at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Friday in what will be a physical tussle. Pachuca featured in the 2007 and 2008 editions of the tournament in Japan where they lost three of the four matches. TP Mazembe played in the tournament last year.
Pachuca coach Pablo Marini of Argentina said it would be a very physical game after some video footage of TP Mazembe. “We were really surprised by their physical power, with players who are really strong in the field. They don’t give you time to think on the ball,” he said and added:
“All of our players are fit and we have no injury problems. The players have already adapted well to the conditions here and now we are ready for the match.”
About his team style of play, Marini said: “Pachuca is known for being a very defensive team, trying to control the tempo and holding the ball most of the time, and that’s what we will try to do.”
“We are really looking forward to do well both for the club as well as the country,” Pachuca defender Leobardo Lopez said. Lopez played in the 2008 Club World Cup.
He said that it is a different squad to the one that played in the 2007 and 2008 editions but added that they are keen to do well.
“Now, it is a different team and we miss many of those players. But we are a very cohesive unit and are keen to do something for the country. Everyone is excited,” he added.
About their opponents, Lopez said: “TP Mazembe are a team that is physically very strong, very fast, and they are waiting to really give us a hard battle. We will have to be really attentive of their strengths because they really attack very well.”
‘A significant number of cars damaged during last week’s rains may not be covered for natural disasters such as flooding’
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