AGL preview: Jazira welcome back Hosani, Wahda chase ACL spot

Matt Jones - Editor 20:56 09/03/2016
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  • Midfielder Yaqoub al-Hosani returns for Al Jazira.

    Henk ten Cate says Al Jazira have undoubtedly improved since he took over at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, but he is demanding more from his players as he welcomes back a host of big names for the trip to Al Nasr Thursday.

    A depleted Pride of Abu Dhabi were downed 3-1 in Al Clasico by Al Ain on Sunday but the Dutchman has centre-back Abdulla Mousa returning for the game at Al Maktoum Stadium, as well as midfield trio Park Jong-woo, Yaqoub Al Hosani and Salim Rashed.

    “I’m here just a short period but you can see the team is improving, but not enough as I want,” said the 61-year-old.

    “I want much more and there is more in this team and we are working on this.”

    The Dutchman also praised his side’s fortitude and claims they will bounce back from defeat to the Boss against the Blue Wave.

    “This team is very strong mentally,” added Ten Cate.

    “I think one of the biggest qualities of this team is the mental strength. It is a team that is able to fight even against Al Ain when we miss so many players.

    “After we lost against Tractor Sazi we won against Al Dhafra and if you look at Dhafra’s last six games, they are one of the strongest teams in the league at this moment.

    “We play a good team again, one of the best teams in the league. Fortunately for us they are in a similar situation as they play the same number of games as us in the last 21 days so they face the same problem. Injured and tired players.

    “I believe in my team. We played good games before and now that everyone is back on board our team is much stronger. The scenario will be they will play to win and so will we.”

    Nasr lost 1-0 to Al Shabab in their last league game and despite seeing his side win just two of their last nine games in all competitions, and relinquish third place to Al Wasl a week ago, Blue Wave boss Ivan Jovanovic is encouraged by the fact his team continue to create goal-scoring opportunities.

    “As a coach, in order to have hope for a good result, you need to be a team capable of creating chances in every game,” he said.

    “There are games in which you create few chances but you take them and score, and there are games like against Sepahan and Al Shabab where you create many chances but you miss many of them.

    “Of course we are upset that we didn’t score from these opportunities especially against Al Shabab, but for me it is important that we are creating chances. If you see our statistics in all competitions, we are usually a team that scores in the majority of our games.”

    Centre-back Esam Dhahi is out of the game after being injured against Shabab, but Khalid Jalal, Mubarak Saeed and Luis Jimenez are all in contention to face Jazira.

    “We are in a period during which we aren’t having good results in the League, so this game is critical for us,” added Jovanovic.

    “Maybe Al Jazira this season hasn’t been as strong as previous seasons but they are still a good team and we expect a very difficult game.”

    AL WAHDA SET SIGHTS ON CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFICATION

    Javier Aguirre has called on his Al Wahda team to win their next three games ahead of a possible showdown with Al Wasl for the third coveted AFC Champions League spot.

    The Clarets host the Cheetahs at the end of April but the Mexican, who signed a 12-month contract extension at Al Nahyan Stadium earlier this week, wants his side to pick up nine points before then, starting with Thursday’s trip to relegation-threatened Fujairah.

    “Al Wasl are our target. With all respect I think Al Shabab and Al Nasr are off colour, but it is a race of four horses, so we have to do our job and wait,” said Aguirre of a battle for third spot that intensified last week when Al Shabab beat Nasr 1-0 to throw their hat into the ring.

    The Blue Wave had been leapfrogged by Wasl on Friday, who had drawn 1-1 with Emirates Club, and Aguirre says his side must take advantage of Nasr’s recent poor form.

    “Us and Al Wasl have in theory better games coming and also we have a game against them here so I hope if we can have important results in the next three games,” said the former Atletico Madrid manager.

    “The next three games are very, very important for us. If we are able to get nine points it’s almost done because at the end of these games we will be favourites for third.”

    The 57-year-old, however, is expecting a tough game at Fujairah, who dismissed head coach Ivan Hasek on Saturday after a 3-1 loss to Sharjah saw them slip into the bottom two.

    “It’s a dangerous game because they’ve changed manager this week so we don’t know if they’re going to change players, style or their set-piece, so I hope my team is ready,” added Aguirre, who will be without the suspended Jorge Valdivia and Ahmed Rashid.

    Defenders Mohammed Salem and Salem Sultan are injured, while Aguirre is not sure if UAE international centre-back Hamdan Al Kamali will be fit enough to play, but he does welcome back Mohammed Al Menhali to the back four.

    Frenchman Stephane Ahmed will take temporary charge of the Wolves following Hasek’s departure, although the club is looking to appoint a permanent replacement.

    DOUGLAS HOPEFUL HAT-TRICK WILL EASE PRESSURE

    Al Ain striker Douglas hopes his hat-trick against Al Jazira is a sign his mini blip is over and will get the club’s fans off his back.

    The Brazilian hit the ground running in the Garden City before scoring just once in four games prior to Sunday’s 3-1 victory, which had led to fans criticising him on his Instagram account.

    Al Ain host Bani Yas on Friday, and Douglas said: “The match (against Jazira) will remain in my memory as it was my first hat-trick wearing the shirt of Al Ain.

    “This is the first time I’ve suffered such an attack from supporters of the club to which I belong, although I know they do not represent the majority of fans.”

    Facing the champions might not be ideal having just been thrashed 3-0 at home by Dhafra, but Bani Yas coach Luis Garcia feels the game provides his side with a real opportunity.

    “It’s a challenge, especially after the recent defeat, which were not unexpected, but there are always surprises in football,” said the Spaniard. “The players need to show solidarity and play as one team in order to win.”

    Elsewhere, Al Wasl coach Gabriel Calderon claims last season’s 3-1 away defeat to Al Dhafra is still very much fresh in his mind and he insists his side will not be so “soft” on their travels to take on Mohamad Kwid’s in-form side tomorrow.

    The Western Knights have only lost once in their last six AGL games, and the Argentine says he has emphasised the importance of the clash to his players.

    “Last season we went to their stadium a little bit soft and gave away the match easily. This time I have prepared my players mentally to play a very difficult match,” said the 56-year-old.

    Captain Waheed Ismail claims Wasl will spare nothing to secure AFC Champions League football.

    “We will not spare a drop of sweat to win and please our fans,” he said.

    With both teams fighting at different ends of the league, Kwid knows each want three points for different reasons.

    “Everyone is desperately battling for a point let alone three points,” said the Syrian. “The team is still in a critical situation. The players understand the importance of the match.”

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