Craig Harrison's Second Spell at The New Saints
The New Saints head coach Craig Harrison is preparing his team to capitalise on their home advantage in the second leg of their Champions League qualifying round.
The Welsh champions will face Sabah of Azerbaijan in the first qualifying round, with the opening leg scheduled in Baku on 7 July.
The return fixture will take place at Park Hall a week later, on 14 July.
"It's really important that we're in the game when it comes back to the second leg," Harrison told Wales.
"I don't think anyone would particularly enjoy coming here and playing us, because against anyone, we fancy our chances at home. We've had some fantastic performances here."
Sabah, based in Masazir and founded in 2017, are entering European competition for the fourth consecutive season.
The Owls secured the Azerbaijan Premier League title for the first time last season, finishing nine points ahead of 12-time champions Qarabag.
"We've got our work cut out but we're looking forward to the challenge," Harrison said.
"They're obviously a very good team – they beat Qarabag to the league by nine points and Qarabag beat Benfica in the Champions League last year and only got beaten 3-2 by Newcastle at St James' Park.
So we realise it's going to be a challenge and it's obviously a logistical challenge as well.
In the heat, it's going to be 30-35 degrees."
The former Premier League player highlighted the club's preparation to handle the physical demands of playing in such conditions.
"The club has really good sports scientists and physios," he said, "and we will cope with that.
We regularly do hydration tests before training every day, just to make sure everyone's hydrated.
We'll be doing that all the way through to kick-off in the first game.
So it's important that these other little factors go into it and other little bits and pieces that we need to take.
It's a new place, a new challenge, and the opportunity to give our best shot of trying to come back with the game still open."
Player Additions and European Campaign History
Former Aston Villa forward Brad Young has rejoined The New Saints after spells with Al-Orabah in Saudi Arabia, UAE-based Baniyas, and Caernarfon Town.
In 2024, Saints became the first Welsh domestic side to reach the group stage of a European competition, featuring in the UEFA Conference League.
However, their European campaign last season was brief, as they were eliminated by Shkendija in the Champions League qualifiers and by Differdange 03 in the Conference League.
Saints scored only once in four European matches last season, but Harrison is optimistic about their offensive capabilities this time around.
New signings include striker Brad Young returning to the club and winger Rhys Hughes arriving from Cymru Premier rivals Connah's Quay Nomads.
"At the time, Ben Wilson wasn't fully fit. He'd hardly played any minutes and he'd just joined, the big key is Ben being fully fit, having a good pre-season under his belt," Harrison explained.
"We've brought Brad Young back to the football club, we all know what Brad's about in his goal-scoring ability.
Jordan Williams had a fantastic season last year and there's Rhys Hughes as well with his goals and his assists.
Added to that the likes of Ryan Brobbel, Rory Holden and Ben Clark.
So we are in a lot better position than we were this time last year regarding goal threats."
