Club World Cup: 'Nothing is impossible' for Urawa Red Diamonds in Man City clash

Urawa Red Diamonds forward Bryan Linssen has urged his teammates not to show too much respect to treble-winners Manchester City in the Fifa Club World Cup semi-final, reminding them “nothing is impossible” as the Asian champions seek a huge upset in Saudi Arabia.

The Japanese side, three-time champions of their continent, face Pep Guardiola’s English and European champions in the last four in Jeddah on Tuesday night. City, who touched down in the kingdom early on Sunday, enter their first Club World Cup at the semi-final stage.

Urawa, meanwhile, set up the encounter at King Abdullah Sports City by defeating Concacaf champions Club Leon 1-0 at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City on Friday. Dutch striker Alex Schalk scored the game’s only goal, seeing off the Mexican team to tee up the tie with tournament favourites City.

Compatriot Linssen, who signed for Urawa last year having spent his entire career in the Netherlands, should be a key voice in the dressing room given, at 33, he is one of the more experienced players in the squad.

Asked what message he would give to his teammates heading into the semi-final with City, Linssen said: “You enjoy the game and do respect the players, but not too much. Because they're also normal human beings like we are, only the more talented and better.

“But nothing is impossible, meaning everything is possible. So you have to fight for it, but as long as you have too much respect for them, then you will never win.”

Urawa booked their place at a third Club World Cup by defeating Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in the Asian Champions League final in May.

The club have participated in the inter-continental competition twice previously, finishing third on home soil in 2007. Last time out, in 2017,