Yokohama v Al Ain: Hernan Crespo urges his side to thrive off pressure in ACL final

Hernan Crespo has called for his Al Ain players to embrace the pressure of trying to finally land the Asian Champions League title for a second time in the club’s history.

The UAE side, winners of the rebranded competition's inaugural edition in 2003, face final debutants Yokohama F Marinos of Japan in the first leg of the showpiece at the Yokohama International Stadium on Saturday.

Twice runners-up since they became the first – they remain the only – Emirati team to lift the continent’s most coveted club trophy, Al Ain contest a first final in almost a decade.

Crespo’s men have been superb en route to their clash with Yokohama, seeing off Saudi heavyweights Al Nassr and Al Hilal in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively.

Speaking on Friday in Yokohama on the eve of Al Ain’s most important match since their silver medal in 2016, Crespo said of the stress facing his side: “It’s not easy to reach the final in Asia now; we worked very hard to arrive here.

“But to feel pressure is normal … it’s normal. Because you play in a final in a very [prestigious] event and it’s normal to feel something special because the situation is special.

“But we need to live with this situation and to live this moment. Because it will be a great moment independent of the final result. It’s a very beautiful experience to be part of.”

Crespo said Al Ain were “proud” to be in the final and praised “great team” Yokohama, who perhaps similar to his own side, were not expected to reach the Champions League final.

Until this year, the Japanese club had never before been beyond the last 16. However, they survived having a man sent off in the semi-final second leg last month to defeat South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai on penalties.

“Really, I respect