(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Al Shabab coach Caio Junior is pleased with the start that they have had and is keen that they continue the same way.
Al Shabab’s Mohammed Ali Ayed (3) during the match against Al Nasr. — KT photo
Abu Dhabi — Bani Yas coach Luis Garcia will be under pressure to deliver when his side welcomes third-placed Al Shabab at the Bani Yas Stadium in the Arabian Gulf League on Friday night.
The League resumes after a two-week break and the Spaniard will be under the scanner as they go in search of their first win this term.
The Sky Blues haven’t opened their account in the win column in five games so far and have three draws and two losses to show for their effort. The Al Shamkha club who have consistently been there or thereabouts among the top four or five since their promotion to the UAE top flight currently find themselves languishing at the bottom in 12th in the 14-team League.
Luckily Garcia will have his full complement of National team players. But it also means that there can be no more excuses. Garcia who arrived in the summer from La Liga club Getafe had asked for patience in rebuilding the team when he took over.
Garcia was counting on home advantage to see his side through. “This match is very important for us and we will be facing a very strong team. But we have the home advantage and our target is to win” said Garcia.
Meanwhile Al Shabab coach Caio Junior is pleased with the start that they have had and is keen that they continue the same way. Al Shabab have played a game less.
“I am happy so far with our start because it was very very difficult. To take nine points from our first four games is good. But we still need to improve our consistency and we will certainly try to” Junior said. “My job is to achieve balance in the team. In the four games in the League so far I have played the same team. But we change the tactics depending on our opponents” he added. The Brazilian was also impressed with the stability that the club management have shown.
“I am happy with Al Shabab because they think about football and they think in the long-term. The fact that the club has renewed many players’ contracts is very important because it will make the players feel valued and comfortable to focus on their game” said Junior. But Al Shabab go into this game on the back of a loss against Al Wahda and Junior hoped that it doesn’t repeat against Bani Yas. “We lost our last League game against Al Wahda so the game against Bani Yas is very important as we need to recover. They are a good team and we need to pay attention and try our best but it will be a very difficult game” he said.
Meanwhile earlier on Friday Emirates take on Al Sharjah at the Emirates Club Stadium.
Emirates coach Paulo Comelli is satisfied with the start and hoped they continue. “I have great belief in the entire group. I’m quite satisfied with the level we showed” he said.
” and what we achieved away at Al Dhafrah in the previous round” Comelli said.
Rodrigo Souza will be available for the game having returned in time for training from international duty with East Timor.
Al Sharjah coach Paulo Bonamigo was looking for a positive result. “The team will play to its best abilities in order to try and achieve a positive result” Bonamigo said.
jameskhaleejtimes.com
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