As the excitement of the 2023 season ignites, teams from every continent are battling it out for a place in the top tier of the tournament. For Asian teams, the AFC Champions League is undoubtedly the most prestigious tournament, and they are all highly motivated to compete in this year's tournament. So far, eight of the top 16 teams from the Eastern Region have been selected and will face off in a draw, similar to the Champions League.
In Group C, Jeddah United's leadership, Riyadh Crescent in Group D, and Riyadh Victory in Group E will undoubtedly spark public attention. The light of Benzema and Kante shining on Jeddah United, the help of Milinkovic-Savic, Neves and Mitrovic, the moral support of Neymar, the leading role of Cristiano Ronaldo, and the joining of Brozo and Mane make these stars shine.
Their top positions in their respective groups speak volumes about their strengths. After a period of turmoil, Jeddah United's new coach and players are working hard to regain their former championship glory, with Benzema's role needless to say. For Crescent, victory in the Riyadh derby solidified their lead at the top of the table, with fans reassured by the excellent play of key players. As for the President and Victory, the Portuguese legend, once known as the "King of the Champions League", will not give up on his dream of being on top of Asia.
From this, it is self-evident how fierce the competition will be.
Apart from these thundering giants, Uzbekistan's rise to the top was unexpected. Naseef led Group B to a successful win, while Naaman's Spring Festival came in second in Group D. Such results have cheered Uzbekistan, and the green business has progressed by leaps and bounds.
As we all know, in the past, most of these seats were occupied by teams such as UAE and Iran, but now Uzbekistan has joined the competition, which was unthinkable in the past. Of course, the rapid development of the music sector has also helped to improve the overall performance of the national team. This has been a key factor in Uzbekistan's success at all levels of the game. What's more, after looking at their squad, there aren't many foreigners and their actual contribution is limited. Only by relying on local players can they galvanize their fighting spirit, which is a valuable lesson for the Chinese Super League to learn.
In contrast, Shandong's promotion is somewhat disappointing. Clubs prosper so that national teams can rise; clubs are motivated to struggle when national brands excel. This equation will always hold true, and Uzbekistan will soon become a formidable foe for our national soccer team. If we maintain the status quo, we will undoubtedly take a step back. After all, the efforts of our opponents will bring a huge amount of confidence, which will be crucial to winning or losing the match.
