Brazilian coach Franco, head of Al-Hussein Irbid, confirmed that his squad is ready to face Esteghlal Tehran on Tuesday evening at Amman Stadium in the second leg of the AFC Champions League 2 Round of 16.

During the press conference held in Amman, Franco expressed confidence in his team’s ability to secure a positive result that would take them to the quarterfinals, despite the strength and quality of the opponent.

A Different Approach in Amman

The coach noted that his team used a balanced defensive strategy in the first leg in Dubai last week, which ended with Al-Hussein winning 1-0. He added that the return match would see a different tactical approach suited to the nature of the game and Amman Stadium’s pitch.

He also said that the coaching staff considered all possible scenarios, including extra time and penalty shootouts, and that players had trained specifically for penalties in case of emergencies.

Possible Absence

Franco highlighted that all players are fully fit, except striker Rizq Bani Hani, who recently returned to training but still experiences some pain, leaving his participation in the match uncertain.

Ambition Beyond Qualification

Al-Hussein player Rajai Ayed stated that the team approaches the match with a winning mindset, emphasizing that their goal goes beyond this round and extends to competing for the championship, reflecting strong confidence in the squad’s abilities.

Meanwhile, a coordination meeting for the match was held, covering organizational, security, and media arrangements. The teams also agreed on their official kits: Al-Hussein will wear yellow and black, while Esteghlal Tehran will appear in blue.

All eyes are on Amman Stadium as Al-Hussein Irbid aims to continue its continental journey and write a new chapter in its Asian campaign.