World Club Cup: LDU's Bolanos Ready For Manchester United

LDU Quito attacking midfielder Luis Bolanos is confident that the Copa Libertadores winners have a chance of toppling European champions Manchester United ahead of Sunday's FIFA World Club Cup final.

Bolanos, 23, was one of the stars of LDU's successful Libertadores campaign and has continued that form into the World Club Cup, scoring a superb freekick in his side's semi-final victory over Pachuca of Mexico. He hopes to make a similar impact on Sunday.

"The goals I scored in the Copa Libertadores played a decisive part in us winning the trophy, and here in Japan I was lucky enough to hit the target against Pachuca in the semi-finals," he told FIFA.com

"And now I'm hoping to make another contribution by scoring again in the final."

LDU are used to providing upsets, having been cast as underdogs throughout their run to Libertadores glory. Although Bolanos recognises that Manchester United are a completely different proposition, he still believes his side have a chance of taking the trophy back to Ecuador.

"This match will be totally different to the Copa Libertadores," he affirmed.

"Both sides will be going all out for the win and to become the best side in the world. It is going to be something we have never experienced before, but we know what Manchester are all about. They are all great players, but we have to know how to stop them and play as a unit.

"It is sure to be a tough, challenging occasion for us."

Sunday's match will be Edgardo Bauza's last in charge of LDU and Bolanos, more than most, has a great debt to pay to the Argentine coach who brought the best out of him by moving him out wide from the central attacking midfield position he had previously occupied.

"If we win, it will be a great way for Bauza to leave, for everything he has done for the club. He put his trust in me and I want to repay him for that out on the pitch," he concluded.

World Club Cup: LDU Coach Bauza Determined To Go Out On A High

Departing LDU Quito head coach Edgardo Bauza believes that his side can win the 2008 FIFA World Club Cup, although he admits that it will be difficult task due to the quality of their opposition.

LDU will face Mexican side Pachuca in the semi-final of the competition on Wednesday, with the prize of a likely tie against European champions Manchester United in the final at stake for both teams.

Bauza feels that the same underdog spirit that took them to Copa Libertadores glory earlier in the year can serve his side well in Japan.

"We weren't among the favourites for the Libertadores, but we said that our opponents would have to kill us to get past us," he stated at a press conference ahead of the semi-final.

"It's no coincidence that I chose Norberto Araujo, Damian Manso and Claudio Bieler as the spine of the side.

"By putting some excellent Ecuadorian players around them we managed to convince ourselves that we could go anywhere we want and beat any team we chose. That kind of spirit is contagious."

Such a desire to succeed has clearly taken it's toll on Bauza, who will pass over his duties as coach to Jorge Fossati after the tournament.

"The fact is, though, that I'm very tired now and it might be counterproductive for me to stay on. We've come to the end of an era," he concluded.