(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Al ahli will be defending the president?s cup when they meet arch-rivals al ain in the final at the zayed sports city on sunday night.
l ain players celebrate after winning their president’s cup semi-finals against al nasr at zayed sports city stadium abu dhabi.— kt file
al ahli may have landed three pieces of silverware this season when they won the arabian gulf league and the arabian gulf cup but coach cosmin olaroiu said that the prestigious president’s cup is the most important one.
al ahli will be defending the president’s cup when they meet arch-rivals al ain in the final at the zayed sports city on sunday night.
“it is the most important trophy for us. now it is the only one that remains and that we have to take because it is the most important. we have to concentrate and focus on this” olaroiu said on saturday.
the romanian who is the only coach to win three league titles on the bounce with two different clubs was adjudged the coach of the year at the annual arabian gulf league awards at the st regis hotel in abu dhabi on saturday.
meanwhile coach catalin raducan said that it would be anybody’s game though al ain are on a hot streak of being unbeaten in 11 fixtures across all competitions.
raducan countered that by saying al ahli had lost just one league game the entire season including three matches across all competitions. they lost a game each in the arabian gulf league the arabian gulf cup and the afc champions league.
“we don’t look at statistics in this kind of game. al ain may be unbeaten in 11 games but we can say al ahli have only lost one league game this season including three games across all competitions” said raducan.
he also added that they have got the better of al ain in the three fixtures they have met this season. al ahli beat al ain in the season-opening arabian super cup and twice in the arabian gulf league.
“we can also say that we beat al ain in all three games this season” he added.
raducan said that both teams were well matched and it could be decided by small details.
“in this kind of a game you can’t say one team starts as favourites. it is a 50:50 with strong players and good preparation on either side. it will go down to the small details” raducan reckoned.
despite lapping up three titles raducan said that their aim would be to complete a quartet and finish their dream season on a high.
“it’s great to be in the final but that’s not enough. we are just a day away from making it a fantastic season. you don’t get many chances like this” he added.
james?khaleejtimes.com
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