Abu Dhabi: Al Jazira coach Henk Ten Cate is confident of his players drawing inspiration from the success against Auckland City to match the might of Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds in their Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final encounter at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Saturday. The action starts at 8.30pm.

The All-Asian clash will decide who will take on defending champions Real Madrid on December 13.

“After the match against Auckland our team is very confident. We have nothing to lose. We are just a small champion of the UAE and we are facing Champions of Continent. So we have nothing to lose and Urawa Reds have a lot to lose; more than us,” said the Dutchman, who turns 63 on Saturday.

A victory against the Japanese side will be “the best birthday present ever”, said Ten Cate but acknowledged that it will be a Herculean task for his young inexperienced brigade.

“We face a very tough opponent who are the champions of Asia,” said Ten Cate, who is well aware that his team cannot afford to give away as many chances as they did against Auckland. “There are some real quality players inside the team: a couple of Japanese internationals and a Brazilian who plays on the left. However, we are ready.”

Had it not been for the brilliance of goalkeeper Ali Khaseif, it would have been Auckland who progressed. Ten Cate asserted that his team have ironed out the creases during the short break.

“The boys were a little nervous trying to protect a 1-0 lead instead of trying to go forward and score another goal,” he said. “This helped the opponent to get into the game but I would like to say that we learn quickly.

“The recovery was yesterday, we had some team sessions, some sauna, massage etc. We will be having a training session later in the evening at Emirates Palace. The players have recovered well and they feel good and are ready to go.”

Ten Cate has also done a thorough study of his rival during the break and earmarked their strengths and weakness.

“We analysed Urawa matches of their local games and also the two games against Al Hilal,” he said, referring to the Asian Champions League final. “They are a very strong team and well-organised and very aggressive. They played different in those games. Against Al Hilal, they were holding back and in other match they were pushing forward more. So we will wait and see what will happen tomorrow. In football, as I said, everything is possible it is just one game. Let’s wait and see.”

Al Jazira’s 20-year-old utility player Mohammad Al Attas revealed that, all the players are upbeat about the challenge and keen to deliver.

“I would like to thank coach Ten Cate for giving us confidence to play in an international competition like this,” hea said. “We are all going to fight it out no matter what. I hope the fans will come and support us.”

Ten Cate signed off saying that he backs youngsters because he truly believes in their ability to perform.

“I give chances to youngsters because I believe in their quality,” he said. “This little fellow (Al Attas) sitting next to me is multifunctional talent and can play in any position. He is doing his job very well and I’m confident he will do a good job tomorrow.”