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CLUB WORLD CUP | CLUB AMÉRICA

Club América boss, La Volpe: "Shirts don't win games"

The coach of the Mexican outfit who Real Madrid will meet in the semi-final of the Club World Cup warned. "We haven't come all this way for a stroll".

Update:
Club América boss, La Volpe: "Shirts don't win games"
KIMIMASA MAYAMAEFE

Real Madrid - Kashima Antlers, Club World Cup Final 2016

Not "a backpacking trip"

Club América's Silvio Romero scores in today's meeting with Jeonbuk Hyundai in Osaka.
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Club América's Silvio Romero scores in today's meeting with Jeonbuk Hyundai in Osaka.KAZUHIRO NOGIAFP

Club América coach Ricardo La Volpe warned that his side haven't travelled to Japan merely to do a bit of sightseeing. The Mexicans booked their place in Thursday's semi-final against Real Madrid after beating South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai 2-1. He warned that his players won't be going taking on Zidane's team "wearing their rucksacks".

No pressure

"To be in such a strong competition shows that we are a team which is growing - we haven't come here for a stroll", said La Volpe, who added "Shirts don't win football matches, men do. We will need to pull out all the stops to man-mark them out on the pitch. My team's going to play much looser - we have nothing to lose, everything sees us as the underdogs in any case".

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TORU HANAIREUTERS

La Volpe said that he is sure that he will be able to count on Argentine midfielder Rubens Sambueza, "who wants to play, and with a player like him, I think we will be able to manage the ball better and be a more complete as a team".

As for what he wants to see from his side, the same qualities they showed today against Jeonbuk Hyundai: "Character, mental strength and courage - that's what we will need again to take this game forward".

Bittersweet taste for Jeonbuk Hyundai

Jeonbuk Hyundai coach Choi Kang-hee, lamented that his team won't be progressing in the tournament: "It's a shame to lose but the players knew how to overcome the difficulties they faced and went for the win right up until the end. Despite the defeat this has been a very positive experience for us, but the competition isn't over yet and now we have to prepare ourselves for the next game - both tactically, and in terms of recovering our spirit", he explained.