‘We defended Chinese honour’, Says Felix Magath as his Shandong Luneng side bow out of Champions League

Defeat to Korean side ensures there will be no side from the mega rich Chinese Super League in this year’s last four

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Former Bayern Munich manager Felix Magath has praised his side despite their exit from the AFC Champions League.

Published: 4:24pm, 15 Sep 2016

Felix Magath said Shandong Luneng “defended the honour of Chinese football” in their battling defeat to FC Seoul, which ended Chinese interest in the AFC Champions League.

Shandong, 3-1 down after the quarter-final’s first leg, dominated the return game in Jinan, which they drew 1-1 on Wednesday to exit with their pride intact.

It came a day after Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Shanghai SIPG were smashed 5-0 by Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, ensuring an all-Korean semi-final later this month.

However, the defeats denied big-spending China a third Asian title in four seasons after Guangzhou Evergrande lifted the Champions League trophy in 2013 and 2015.

“Unfortunately we are eliminated,” said ex-Bayern Munich and Fulham boss Magath, according to the Asian Football Confederation website.

Walter Montillo was unable to make the difference for Shandong Luneng in their quarter-final defeat to FC Seoul.

“But we defended the honour of Chinese football, and can leave the competition with our head up.

“I have been saying so many times that my reason to be here is to win titles with Shandong. If we win the domestic championship, of course we will be back in the AFC Champions League again.”