"We can't afford to lose this qualifier, as the game is a knock-out one," said coach Menezes here on Monday, as his Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng will take on the Indian champions Mohun Bagan Athletic Club here Tuesday.
It is really the first tough test for the former Brazil coach, as his team will start to play the second round of the 2016 AFC Champions League (ACL) qualifying tournament.
"I am under a lot pressure," he admitted on the pre-match conference, as there is no other option than advancing into the next stage.
Mohun Bagan beat Tampines Rovers of Singapore 3-1 in the first preliminary round on Jan.27 in Kolkata of India.
The win has created history. Mohun Bagan became the first Indian club to win in the AFC Champions League (ACL) qualifiers, as well as the first Indian football club to qualify for the Asian Champions League preliminary round 2. However, Luneng will start their eighth tour to the ACL since 2005.
Mano Menezes took the helm of Luneng last December, when he joined his countryman Scolari of Guangzhou Evergrande and Luxemburgo of Super League side Tianjin Quanjian to continue coaching career in China. The three all once coached Brazilian national team.
"We did make full preparations for the qualifier, as it is our first crucial game. However, the game is different from the warm-up job, we will check out that tomorrow", said the Brazilian.
Menezes also made a rule public, that is the starting list will finally come out an hour before the match.
Mohun Bagan, founded in 1889, is the oldest football club in India. The club is also known as "The National Club of India".
"The cold weather may influence our performance," Mohun Bagan coach Sanjoy Sen did pay attention to the cold weather of Jinan, as the weather of their base Kolkata of India is much warmer than that of Jinan.
"But We will try our best to get well prepared, we don't want to give excuses," said Sanjoy.
"We look forward to the game," said Luciano Sobrosa of Mohun Bagan, adding that Luneng has top-quality coach and players.
Due to visa problem, Cornell Glen who scored in the first preliminary round, was not allowed to travel to China, so he will miss Tuesday's match.
"Corner kick and free kick are important ways of scoring, so I attach great importance to that," said Menezes, adding that he will try to make use of this kind of tactics.
The winners between Mohun Bagan and Luneng will play the 2008 ACL runners-up Adelaide United in Australia on Feb. 9, to vie for a place in Group F of the 2016 AFC Champions League.
