AFC Champions League Elite - We were not at our best, admits Frontale’s Hasebe

Jeddah: Head coach Shigetoshi Hasebe conceded that Kawasaki Frontale side were upstaged by a better Al Ahli Saudi FC in the final of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 on Saturday.

Hasebe admitted that his Japanese side were not able to show the quality they had displayed in their previous two AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 matches - having convincingly beaten Qatar’s Al Sadd SC and Al Nassr Club of Saudi Arabia.

#ACLElite | Final : Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) 2 - 0 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN)

“We did not expect this result but our opponents played well,” said Hasebe. “We conceded two goals and they deserved to be champions.

“They could show their strength - especially in the first half and we couldn’t. The key was the second goal which we conceded.

“If we could play as we know we can, we could have won. The last two games were the proof. Tonight it didn’t work and we have to do more in the future.”

Winger Marcinho had an opportunity early on but his attempt was smothered by Al Ahli custodian Edouard Mendy, with the final then slipping away from Frontale.

Two first half strikes, a spectacular curling effort from Galeno and well-worked team goal that ended with Franck Kessie’s header - curtailed Frontale’s hopes of joining the elite group of Japanese clubs to have lifted the Asian title.

Hasebe admitted that Frontale have to improve defensively, having not kept a clean sheet at Jeddah 2025.

“Every single game we played here, we conceded two goals and that’s the part we have to improve on for the future.”

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