2021 AFC Champions League Quarterfinals Guide

All of our 2021 AFC Champions League Quarterfinal coverage in one place.

Previews

In Jeonju on Sunday three K League teams enter the AFC Champions League quarterfinals looking to book their places in the last four. Pohang Steelers take on Nagoya Grampus in the day's early kick-off, hoping it's third time lucky after coming up short against the J.League side twice already this term. Later, current K League champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors take on the current champions of Asia, Ulsan Hyundai.

KLUPod: ACL Quarterfinal Preview

Where to Watch

[READ: K League in AFC Champions League Quarterfinals Preview]

Interviews

Pohang Steelers

Kang Sang-woo: "It's our turn to win and get payback"

"Since it's a tournament, rather than setting targets you do your best in each game. If you look at it like that, I think you can reach the final. Whichever team we would face in the quarter-finals will be strong so it's going to be tough and the preparation will be the same. I think there is definitely an advantage for us playing them in Korea. We played Nagoya twice in the group stage, lost the first one and drew the second so I think it's our turn to win, or an opportunity to get payback."

Alex Grant: "We have to set the tone straight away"

"The boys are looking forward to it and then we've had a good 10 days or so before the game to prepare, that's going to be really important. It's almost like a final, so whoever turns up on the day and goes for it. It's like when we played Osaka the other week, you could tell within the first 10 minutes that we wanted it more, that we were going to get the result and so we have to set the tone straight away, I think."

Extended Patreon Version: here

Pohang Steelers will make the short trip to the Jeonju World Cup Stadium to take on Nagoya Grampus in an enticing AFC Champions League quarter-final matchup. It will be a familiar opponent for the Steelers as both teams were drawn together in the group stage of this season's competition. Who will secure a coveted ticket in the semis of the continent's elite club competition on Sunday, 17 October? Pohang Steelers columnist Shibajaee Das previews the contest: here

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Hong Jeong-ho: "It is important to play our own game"

"I don't think the opponent is important, whether it is a Korean team or a team from overseas. Jeonbuk aims to win, so I think it is important to play our own game. It is true that it is a sensitive time as the game nears, but the senior players are leading the team well. The young players are also helping us with their good performances. Rather than feeling the pressure, all our players are confident. Since there are many players who have championship-winning experience, we are trying to prepare for each game with a pleasant atmosphere, not a heavy atmosphere. We will do our best to produce good results."

Stanislav Iljutcenko: "You must beat every team that you face. It doesn't matter who you play"

"I think because of Corona, it's special this year in the Champions League. We travelled to Uzbekistan and played the group stage there. Now all our games will be here until the final in Jeonju, Jeonbuk and it's a new experience. New teams from different countries. I think so far we did a good job. Everything is going like our plan is. In my opinion, if you want to win the AFC Champions League you have to beat every team. You must beat every team that you face and it doesn't matter who you play. "

Ulsan Hyundai

Yoon Bit-garam: "There's one team in particular we want to beat and it's Jeonbuk"

I see it as another game in our bid to win the trophy. We approach each game with the same levels of concentration and have the mindset of simply wanting to do our best. There's a bit of history with us and Jeonbuk but we are only focusing on the 2021 ACL quarter-finals so we can pick up the win. All opponents are difficult because all teams are competitive in their respective leagues. There is no one particular difficult opponent, I don't think. But there is one team in particular that we want to beat and that's Jeonbuk."

Valeri Qazaishvili: "It's always interesting games against Ulsan and Jeonbuk"

It's always big games against Ulsan and Jeonbuk, it's competitive and they always fight also for the championship. We are fighting for the K League together so that will be interesting, it will be nice to play against them and we need to win against them."

I know that they fight till the end and they will just keep going and we just need to be ready and show ourselves, I like us our chances.