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A good start to the Club World Cup for Adelaide Unite could be rewarded with a match-up against one of the most famous clubs in the world – Manchester United.
But the challenge Aurelio Vidmar’s side will face first in its Japanese journey couldn’t be further removed from the riches of the Red Devils.
Adelaide begins its Club World Cup on Thursday against New Zealand part-timers Waitakere United, the Oceania confederation representative.
European champion Manchester United and South American champion Liga de Quito received byes to the semifinals stage and are heavily favoured to meet in the final at Yokohama International Stadium.
Adelaide is on Manchester United’s side of the draw for the December 11-21 tournament, but Vidmar said he wasn’t looking past his team’s opening match.
“Every team in our situation could dream about playing Manchester United,” Vidmar said.
“You have to play one match at a time. I know that’s a boring cliche but it’s true in a tournament like this where anything can happen.”
Adelaide qualified for the Club World Cup – which features the club champions from football’s six continental confederations – despite losing the Asian Champions League final to Japan’s Gamba Osaka.
The first Australian club to reach the Asian club championship final, Adelaide qualified because host Japan was already guaranteed of having a team in the competition. Gamba earned the spot as Asian champion.
The Australians arrive in Japan buoyed by a 6-1 win over Wellington in the Australian A-League on Friday.
“We’re coming off a good win in the domestic competition so we have a lot of confidence,” midfielder Travis Dodd said.
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