AFC Champions League atmosphere is like Europe: Pirouzi coach

AFC - For the past three years, part of Hans-Dieter Schmidt's job was to prepare the dossiers on European giants of like Juventus and Deportivo La Coruna as his club Hamburg, for whom he was chief scout, prepared for the high-octane competition of the UEFA Champions League.

Now the 55-year-old German is trying to ready Iranian champions Pirouzi, who he joined as coach in January, for their opening match against Iraq's Al Talaba in Group D of the AFC Champions League in Tashkent, and Schmidt says the atmosphere, the anticipation and excitement is just the same.

"For me, this is no different to playing the Champions League in Europe," he states. "Sure, there is a difference in the quality, but there is no difference in the feeling."

Pirouzi, the winners of last season's inaugural Pro League in Iran and of its predecessor, the Azadegan, four times between 1996 and 2000, are seasoned campaigners in Asia's continental competitions.

The Tehran side reached the semi-finals of the Asian Club Championship four times in the six seasons prior to it being replaced by the AFC Champions League as the continent's elite club competition. However, Schmidt says the club is determined to fill the void in their trophy cabinet that exists because they have never been crowned champions.

"For them, the club, the people, the country, it's a very important feeling," he explains. "Who plays in the AFC Champions League? Not everyone! The players are very proud to be part of this. They are desperate to reach the final."