TEHRAN – Sepahan Portuguese coach Jose Morais says that they are ready to book their spot in the 2023/24 AFC Champions League knockout stage.

Sepahan will meet Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad Monday night at the King Abdullah Sport City in Jeddeh in Group C.

Star-studded Al Ittihad are, irrespective of the result at the King Abdulaziz Sport City, assured of their spot in the Round of 16 while Sepahan need three points to be absolutely sure.

“First of all, I would like to thank Al Ittihad for their warm welcome. Al Ittihad have previously advanced to the next stage but we are here to secure our place in the knockout round. I really don’t know what could happen but I have to say to respect football and the fans is more important than anything else,” the Portuguese coach said in the pre-match news conference.

Sepahan have not qualified for the knockout stage for 11 years but Morais hopes to bring an end to the drought.

“We want to achieve success, that’s why we are here. I know that we will have a difficult task ahead of us but we want to secure our place in the next round. I know that how strong Al Ittihad are because I’ve worked with some players of the team, but we are ready to meet them,” he added.