Lippi lashes out as players train at hotel
Print Edition
Guangzhou Evergrande manager Marcello Lippi lashed out yesterday after a lack of proper facilities left his players training indoors at their hotel before the AFC Champions League final in Seoul.
The World Cup-winning coach was fuming after his team was not given a suitable training pitch before today’s first leg against FC Seoul, forcing it to improvise.
Lippi, who reached four UEFA Champions League finals with Italy’s Juventus, and won the competition in 1996, said it was the first time he had experienced such treatment.
“We ended up training in the hall in our hotel. I don’t think it’s fair,” Lippi, speaking through an interpreter, told a press conference.
“It’s the first time in 30 years in my career I’ve had something like this happen to me.
“It’s my fifth time in the final in the Champions League, whether it’s in Europe or Asia, and I’ve never had such a problem with an opponent.”
A K-League official said Guangzhou was told two weeks ago that its training pitch did not have good lighting, and it had accepted the arrangement without complaint.
But after the players arrived yesterday afternoon, they found they could not train on the pitch that evening and had to make emergency arrangements.
Lippi insisted Guangzhou would provide FC Seoul with proper facilities when it visits southern China for the second leg in two weeks’ time.
FC Seoul manager Choi Yong-soo said the hosts did the best they could to serve Guangzhou, which hot favorite to lift the trophy.
Lippi, whose free-scoring team is seeking to become China’s first Asian champion in 23 years, said victory “would be on an equal level” as winning the European title.
“I give (AFC) a lot of importance. I’ve been with the team for two years. I have seen them grow physically and psychologically. The team is more organized.”
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