Chiangrai United haven’t given up on knockout stage: Coach Alongkorn

THEY have lost all three of their 2020 AFC Champions League matches, but Chiangrai United will fight for a place in the tournament’s knockout stage until it becomes a mathematical impossibility, according to interim coach Alongkorn Thongsaum.

Speaking ahead of Chiangrai’s Friday meeting with FC Seoul, a side who beat them 5-0 on Tuesday, Alongkorn admitted the 2019 Thai champions have it all to do but insists his side will continue to fight for as long as possible.

“We have to start the match looking for the first goal,” said Alongkorn. “If we can score the first goal, we think we can get some points from this match.

“For the next three matches, we are going to give our best. We know that it’s quite difficult now to qualify for the next round, but anything can happen. It’s just three matches.

“We hope that we can follow what we have planned, and if we do, we believe we can turn the situation around. We are the underdogs here, so we have nothing to lose and we must fight until the end.”

Comprehensively beaten by a rampant Seoul in their first match on Qatari soil, Chiangrai are hopeful their Doha travelogue will feature a much rosier second chapter.

Pulling off a such a turnaround just 72 hours after suffering such a heavy defeat is no easy task, but Alongkorn believes his side will be better prepared this time, both physically and tactically.

“We will start with the players who are the most ready to play the match and who have the better fitness,” he said.

While the onus is on Chiangrai to deliver a far better performance, FC Seoul boss Lee Won-jun – also serving in an interim capacity – just needs more of the same for his side to take another big step towards the Round of 16.