“We’re really excited to be here and are expecting a good battle in the semi-final. We’ve been following the Red Angels for a few months now. They're very organised defensively and hard to break down,” said Matricciani. “But we pride ourselves on controlling the ball, dominating possession, and creating chances.

“We’ve seen them play in a few different shapes, and unless they surprise us completely, we’ll stick to our values and playing style. We respect them – they’re a quality side, well-coached, and especially good in one-on-one situations, which is something we will pay attention to.”

With a ticket to the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup also on the line, the 39-year-old acknowledged that while the global stage remains an enticing prospect, his charges are focused on the immediate task at hand.

“First of all, it is a privilege for us to be here at the semi-finals of the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League, which is such a big step forward for the women’s game in Asia. Our focus is, of course, to come out as winners in the semi-final, but we’d be lying if we didn’t admit that the possibility of a place in the FIFA competition isn’t playing at the back of our minds.”

Meanwhile, City captain Rebekah Stott, while echoing her coach’s sentiments and emphasising the squad’s drive for constant improvement, also credited the backroom staff for their attention to detail.

 “Our coaching staff do a great job analysing our performances. We've been working on little things that we can tweak and fix up,” said Stott. “It’s been an amazing journey so far and hopefully, with a few more adjustments, we can come out winners.”

Red Angels head coach Hur Jung-jae showered praises on Melbourne City’s quality, underlining their impressive mix of physical strength and individual talent.

“Melbourne City are a very well-organised and physically strong team,” said Hur. “They have several players with excellent individual ability, and we’ll be especially cautious of Hannah McNamara, who has impressed us with her speed and sharp movement in tight spaces.”

For Hyundai Steel defender Ko Yu-jin, the importance of Wednesday’s match goes well beyond the 90 minutes on the pitch.

“This is the biggest game we’ve ever played as a team. We all understand how important it is, said Yu-jin. “Winning on this platform is not just important for us as a team, but for women’s football in Korea Republic as a whole.

“We’re working on our mental strength, our condition, and our overall performance. We know what’s at stake, and we’re determined to put up our best performance.”

Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC (KOR) v Melbourne City FC (AUS)
Venue: Wuhan Sports Centre Stadium (Wuhan)
Kick-off: Wednesday, 20:00 (UTC+8)