McKain hails Reds belief

The Reds, who only secured their place in the group stage of the tournament after winning a play-off tie, will discover their next opponent when the quarter-finals are drawn on 14 June.

McKain said the team, written off prior to the tournament, believes it can win the final, having upstaged a number of prominent scalps on the way to the last eight.

"We’re on a fairytale ride and hopefully we can go one better than 2008,” McKain said in reference to the Reds' final loss to Gamba Osaka four years ago. “After the poor A-league season we had people weren’t expecting too much. We were in a difficult group and to top that was a big achievement.

"Then to go out and beat a Nagoya team who most people fancied would be too good for us was another huge step. The dream continues.

"Who’s to say we can’t go all the way in the competition and do something really special. We all certainly believe that and if you believe in something it can always happen.

"Our style seems to suit the Champions League. Unlike the A-League, which is very quick and direct, it’s a lot more methodical and the build up play is slower. If you can frustrate teams then you will get chances. We have showed that.”

Of the eight teams left in the competition three are from Saudi Arabia – Al Ahli, Al Ittihad and Al Hilal – one from Iran, Sepahan, and the others are China’s Guangzhou Evergrande, Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor, K-League outfit Ulsan Hyundai and Adelaide Reds.

The quarter finals are staged in September over two legs.

"Travelling to the Gulf in mid-September would be tough with the temperature likely to still to be in the 40s, so that’s probably a destination we would like to avoid,” said McKain, who represented Saudi club Al-Nassr last year. “The Saudi teams are really tough and so too the Iranians."

The Reds have been given a four-week break by Kosmina and will return for pre-season training in early July to gear up for the A-League and the ACL. They will play friendlies against A-League rivals in August and early September.

McKain says his side's strong performances in the ACL were driven by a thirst for redemption.

"Right from the first game there was a belief from the players, coaches and support staff that we needed to do something in this competition and make a bit of a statement," he said.

"We felt we were a better team that what we showed in the A-League and I think we’re getting better with each game and we have shown a great will to win.”

Of his winning goal against Nagoya in the round of 16, McKain said: “I didn’t know much about it really. It could have gone anywhere.

"The fact it went in typified the luck we’re getting at the moment. Fortunately I was just in the right place at the right time."