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AFC Champions League: Paqueta says Pakhtakor have physical edge over Al Shabab

Al Shabab coach Marcos Paqueta has prepared his team to host a Pakhtakor side in the peak of physical condition at the Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium on Tuesday night, noting in his pre-match press conference that his players have wearier legs after a long season. “Yes, Pakhtakor will be fresher physically due to them being in the early stages of their league, but in the last few days I gave my players the chance to take a breather and have a rest due to the fact that we have a full schedule,” the Brazilian said. Al Shabab do have the advantage of an Uzbek spy in the camp in the form of midfielder Haydarov Azizbek, who has been able to shed some light on their AFC Champions League opponents. “Haydarov has helped us by giving some useful information about the opposing team, and we are fully aware that they have strong players and we should be cautious of this,” Paqueta explained.

 

Pakhtakor’s coach Murad Ismailov, however, doesn’t think Al Shabab’s Uzbek player will have been able to give much relevant insight on his side. “We know Haydarov Azizbek very well and he is an outstanding player, but we don’t think he knows a great deal about our team now because we have changed many things,” Ismailov said. The Uzbek coach recognised the great talent among the Al Shabab ranks and predicted a tough game against a side with many distinguished players, both local and foreign.