Busmen confident vs Shan United

FILE – Ceres Negros in the AFC Champions League. AFC PHOTO

Philippines Football League champion Ceres-Negros may be short on preparation and won’t be enjoying the comforts of playing at Panaad Stadium, but star midfielder Stephan Schrock insists the Busmen’s experience gives them an advantage in their AFC Champions League clash with Shan United on Tuesday.

“The mind-set is always winning regardless if we are prepared or we have a short time together,” said Schrock at the PSA Forum on Tuesday at Amelie Hotel.

“We’re playing against the idea of losing. At the back of my mind, I want to qualify for the group stage. I’m looking for history.”

The Busmen beat Shan United twice last year in the AFC Cup.

And although they lost key players from last year’s run, the Bacolod-based club added Mark Hartmann, Pika Minegishi, Arnie Pasinabo and Josh Grommen to its squad.

Ceres will be without its tremendous home support due to renovations at Panaad Stadium. The club will play its home matches at Rizal Memorial.

Qualifying for the group stage of the AFC Champions League has been a target for the Busmen in the past three years.

They came close in 2018 when they beat Shan United in the first phase and pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the competition by stunning Brisbane Roar, 3-2, in Australia.

But a 0-2 defeat at Tianjin Quanjian ended its bid. INQ