Asian powers to keep pace

In-form South Korea has yet to concede a goal

The 2002 World Cup-winning coach arrived in Guangzhou in June to succeed Fabio Cannavaro and, on November 7, took the big-spending club to Dubai for a 0-0 draw against Al Ahli in the first leg of the 2015 Asian Champions League final.

The second leg takes place in Guangzhou on November 21. That would usually provide plenty of time to prepare, especially as the Chinese domestic season ended in October with a fifth successive domestic title for the star-studded Evergrande, but Scolari has a major headache.

China coach Alain Perrin has included no less than eight Guangzhou players in his 23-man squad ahead of two vital Group C qualifiers against Bhutan in Changsa on Thursday and in Hong Kong five days later.

“After we return to Guangzhou, I must first wait 12 or 13 days for the players to comeback from the nation-