AFC Champions League Elite - Seo vows that Chengdu will hold their own against Asia’s best

Chengdu: Head coach Seo Jung-won was delighted to see his Chengdu Rongcheng FC side reach the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 League Stage, hailing his players sharpness in the 3-0 win against Bangkok United on Tuesday.

After a goalless first half, Yang Mingyang headed Chengdu in front in the 68th minute before a brace from Felipe settled the contest, with Seo pleased to see his plan come to fruition.

“Before the game I expected the second half would be key because Bangkok's domestic league has not yet started,” said Seo.

“They were physically strong and well organised in the first half, but I knew their physical strength would decline in the second half and we could get more opportunities.

“So before the game I asked the players to play cautiously and steadily in the first half, and at the break, I stressed again that there will be opportunities in the second half. As expected, they were physically weak and we took the opportunity to win the game.”

Finishing third in the 2024 Chinese Super League, Chengdu gained a place in the Preliminary Stage as league winners Shanghai Ports FC were also the Chinese FA Cup champions.

Seo, however, believes now that Chengdu have sealed their place in the League Stage of the continental competition at the first time of asking, his side must be braver for the challenges ahead.

“The Champions League is against the strongest teams from all countries, and none of the games are easy, so we must prepare with a more serious and humble mindset.

“I know it's going to be difficult, but I'm willing to take the challenge and let Asia see the strength of Chengdu. I share the same goal with the whole team - not to give up any game and not to lose easily to any opponent in the elite league.”

As for Bangkok head coach Totchtawan Sripan, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow having also dropped out of the competition at this stage in the 2024/25 season with Shandong Taishan FC the victors last season.

The 53-year-old, however, remained proud of his charges and the performance delivered in front of a packed Phoenix Hill Sports Park Football Stadium where over 40,000 fans were in attendance.

“We knew it was going to be difficult but we played well up to about the 70th minute mark then we conceded the first goal which was really felt by the team,” said Totchtawan. “Thereafter the second and third goal felt inevitable.

“We came into this game with some injuries which made the squad thinner than usual and that prevented us from adjusting during the game but I can have no complaints over how the players performed overall.”

Seo vows that Chengdu will hold their own against Asia’s best

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