Al-Ahli’s Pusic expects fine margins in Sundowns Intercontinental clash

 

Al-Ahli coach Marino Pusic says Saturday’s FIFA Intercontinental clash with Mamelodi Sundowns will be decided by small details, rather than either side’s recent form.

The Saudi Arabia side have endured an inconsistent few weeks, recording three defeats, one draw and two victories as they sit in the middle of the Saudi Pro League. Sundowns, by contrast, have won five and drawn one of their past six matches.

That run has taken the South African club to the top of the log and secured their place in next month’s MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates.

Al-Ahli reached this stage of the competition after beating Auckland FC and remain focused on continuing their progress towards a first global title. Saturday’s match at Loftus will determine the winner of the African-Asian-Pacific Cup.

“Those recent few games tell nothing because every game has its own story,” Pusic said after Al-Ahli completed their preparations at Loftus on Friday afternoon.

“Finals are finals, they are special games and are decided by details and that will be the case tomorrow. We are playing against a good team, but we have analysed them as well.

“We have a lot of respect for them as Champions of Africa. But at the same time, we are the champions of Asia and we are also a good football-playing team.

“It is going to be an interesting confrontation and our results before this game don’t count at all.”

Pusic also praised Sundowns’ style and the understanding built within their squad over an extended period.

“They are a team that has been playing for a long time together and you can see that in everything they do during games.

“They are not only playing together for their club but also for the national team. They are a team with playmaking style, which makes them very good and attractive to watch and that is the interesting part to see tomorrow.

“They are the best team on the continent and that’s not for nothing because they have quality.”

The Al-Ahli manager said his side had studied Sundowns extensively but warned that preparation alone would not settle the contest.

“About information, we live in the open world and everything is there for everybody to see. You can be sure that we now have enough information about them, but those things are not decisive before the game.

“Decisive things will be during the game and dealing with certain things for both teams and that will be interesting to see.”