Guangzhou Evergrande manager Marcello Lippi lashed out Friday after a lack of proper facilities­ left his players training indoors at their hotel before the AFC Champions League final in Seoul.

The World Cup-winning coach was fuming after his team was not given a suitable training pitch before Saturday's first leg against FC Seoul, forcing them to improvise.

Lippi, who reached four UEFA Champions League finals with Italy's Juventus, and won the competition in 1996, said it was the first time he had experienced such treatment.

"We ended up training in the hall in our hotel. I don't think it's fair," Lippi, speaking through an interpreter, told a press conference.

"It's the first time in 30 years in my career I've had something like this happen­ to me."

A K-League official said Guangzhou were told two weeks ago that their training pitch did not have good lighting, and they had accepted the arrangement without complaint.

But after the team arrived on Thursday afternoon, they found they could not train on the pitch that evening and had to make emergency arrangements.

Lippi insisted Guangzhou would provide FC Seoul with proper facilities when they visit southern China for the second leg in two weeks' time.

FC Seoul manager Choi Yong-soo said the hosts did the best they could to serve Guangzhou, who are hot favorites to lift the trophy.

"We won't ask for any more than what the regulations require when we visit Guangzhou," added Choi.

Lippi, whose free-scoring team is seeking to become China's first Asian champions in 23 years, said victory "would be on an equal level" as winning the European title.

"I give (AFC) a lot of importance," he said. "It's my first time having to play a two-legged final, and it's something completely different to me.

"You have to be really well prepared for the first match and the second match, especially for the last moments in the decisive game," he added.

Guangzhou have netted four goals in each of their past two away matches.

AFP - Global Times