South Korea's Pohang Steelers will attempt to add another major title to its trophy case when it meets Saudi champion Al-Ittihad in Saturday's Asian Champions League final. The final will be played at Tokyo's National Stadium, a ground that holds some significance for Al-Ittihad coach Gabriel Calderon of Argentina. Calderon's last visit to National Stadium was in 1979, when he lined up with Diego Maradona to win the final of the under-20 World Cup. “It was 30 years ago and this is my first time in Tokyo since then, so I would like to repeat that success in the AFC Champions League final. So far, I have a 100 percent record at the National Stadium,” said Calderon, who graduated to represent Argentina at the 1982 and 1990 World Cup tournaments. Calderon says Al-Ittihad has an advantage over Pohang – Saturday's lineup including several veterans of the 2004 and 2005 Champions League-winning teams, as well as the side that reached the 2005 FIFA Club World Cup semifinals at National Stadium. Captain Mohammed Noor, midfielders Saudi Khariri and Manaf Aboshgair, center backs Redha Takar and Hamad Al-Montashari, and goalkeeper Mabrouk Zaid remain from the side that beat African champion Al-Ahly in the quarterfinals before losing to eventual champion Sao Paolo. “It's great that we have so many top players that have played in the AFC Champions League final before, as they know what it's all about,” Calderon said. “It's very important to have players with experience and the experience of winning.” Pohang's Brazilian coach Sergio Farias, since joining the club in 2005, has guided the Steelers to a K-League title in 2007, a Korean FA Cup in 2008 and this year's League Cup. “Every team wants to be the champions in any event they compete in, but we really want to be the best team in Asia,” said Farias, whose side has also qualified for the final stages of this year's K-League playoffs. “Last year, we played in the AFC Champions League for the first time and didn't get past the group stage, but our players have grown up since then and gained experience.” Lanky Macedonia international Stevica Ristik will add firepower to a Pohang side that will feature three players up front in Tokyo. “Ristik is likely to play. Al Ittihad know us. Ouugh we may have small changes.” Brazilian striker Denilson, Pohang's top scorer this Champions League campaign with seven goals, knows Ittihad and Saudi football well after spending six seasons with three clubs in neighboring United Arab Emirates up until 2005. “I know Ittihad well by reputation and I've seen them play many times,” said Denilson, whose previous clubs include Feyenoord and Paris St. Germain. “They're a very experienced side with many Saudi internationals. They've all played together for a long time, as players in Saudi don't change clubs that much.” “However, we're also very strong and our team are young,” he added. “We've played a lot of games this year and one of our strengths is that almost any player on our team can score.” The South Korean media has tried to give Pohang a little extra motivation. Al-Ittihad has a history of defeating K-League teams in the Asian Champions League competition, so much so that it has been dubbed ‘K-League Killer' by the Seoul media. In 2004, Al-Ittihad eliminated Jeonbuk Motors in the semifinal. That earned a final with Seongnam Chunma. The first leg ended in a 3-1 home loss but, in the most famous turnaround in Asian soccer history, Al-Ittihad won 5-0 in the second leg. The Saudi club then thrashed Busan I'Park on its way to the 2005 title.
