Buriram face must-win Jiangsu match
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Buriram United must win their match at home to China Super League side Jiangsu Sainty today to avoid a likely exit from the AFC Champions League at the group stage for the second successive season.
Buriram slipped to the bottom of Group E with only two points from three matches following last week’s 2-0 reverse in Nanjing. Anything less than a win for the Thai club would likely deal a fatal blow to hopes of avoiding their fate last season when they failed to survive the group stage.
Against second-placed Jiangsu at the I-Mobile stadium, Buriram are likely to be without right-back Suree Sukha, who is still struggling with injury, while midfielder Anawin Jujeen will miss the game through suspension after his dismissal last week.
The Thais, though, head into the game buoyed by their 6-1 thrashing of Songkhla United in the domestic league at the weekend, which kept them in fourth spot with a game in hand.
Aware that a draw may not be enough to revive their qualification chances, Buriram coach Atthaphol Puspakom has tried to ensure his charges don’t repeat the same mistakes that led to them conceding two goals in under a minute last week in China.
“We always have full confidence when we play at home. Last week, we gave away two goals in less than a minute so we must maintain our concentration and not concede a goal too easily like last time.
“If we can do that, we have a great chance of winning the game. We need nothing less than a victory to keep our qualification hopes alive. Theoretically, we would still have a chance if we draw but it would be very difficult to make it through,” said former national player Atthaphol.
Atthaphol admitted his side’s play down the right would be less effective without both Suree and Anawin but believes they can fill the gap left by the pair’s absence. Centre-back Prathum Chutong is expected to fill in at right-back, while either Anthony Ampaipitakwong or Suchao Nutnum will take up the role on the right of midfield.
Up front, Buriram will be at full strength, with Japanese forward Kai Hirano and strike partner Bustos back in the starting line-up after the duo were rested at the weekend.
Mancini: we will win title
Roberto Mancini said that Manchester City could win the title next season after their victory in the 165th derby last night.
Mancini, who may be without David Silva for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final owing to the hamstring injury he suffered in the second half, said: “We know that we can win the title next year. This year we did some mistakes but now we can do nothing, the season is gone.
“It is important that we continue to win – we have another seven games. For now we need to play like this. For next season we have two or three months where we can work well and where we can improve our team.”
The manager is sure that the 15-point gap his side faced entering the derby will not be repeated next season. “No. I think that we showed this tonight. We can’t be 15 points behind,” he said before accepting that Ferguson’s side deserved credit.
