After five and a half seasons of chronic underachievement under former manager Mihailo Petrovic, second-time caretaker manager Takafumi Hori took a side that had forgotten its potential and instilled a new sense of confidence simply by reminding his players that they were capable of defending, not just attacking.
An inspired comeback against heavily-favored Kawasaki Frontale and spiritedly defensive showings against Shanghai SIPG and Al Hilal brought Urawa Reds back to the pinnacle of Asian football. Their next step will be to become the domestic powerhouse they have projected themselves as being for so many years.
