Andre Villas-Boas dreaming of AFC Champions League final

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Shanghai SIPG is expected to face Urawa Red Diamonds in the semi-final on Wednesday night, as SIPG coach Andre Villas-Boas hopes for a victory as his 40th birthday present.

Andre Villas-Boas will have captain Wang Shenchao, goalkeeper Yan Junling and full back Wang Jiajie back in the line-up, so the Portuguese is confident that his team will be ready for the contest.

The squads tied 1-1 after the opening leg, with the second game of their tie set for the coming match in Japan.

SIPG’s strikers Elkeson and Hulk took training session. /Photo via Osports‍

“We understand the value and the quality of Urawa Reds, but we are also very good. We have our own ambition and we hope we can achieve it in this stadium,” Villas-Boas said.

But Urawa have been trying to repeat their feat from 2007. It was the year when they made continental history and became the first Japanese side to lift the AFC Champions League title.

The team is currently on a run of five successive home victories in the tournament and is seeking to reach the final for the first time since they lifted the title. The squad hope that continued success on home soil will be enough to help them get back to the title contest.

"Shanghai is a very good team, but we were able to show our skills, and how we can play during the last game. We will be playing at home, so for our fans, and everyone involved in our organization, we need to play our best and come out on top, and show our appreciation by winning," Urawa Coach Takafumi Hori said.

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