Tagliabue says Dzsudzsak is fitting in at Wahda

Matt Jones - Editor 07:25 30/10/2016
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  • Al Wahda are finally beginning to see the best of Hungary captain Balazs Dzsudzsak after a difficult start to life in the Emirates, according to Clarets team-mate Sebastian Tagliabue.

    The 29-year-old former PSV and Dynamo Moscow forward was signed from Turkey’s Bursaspor in August following an impressive Euro 2016 campaign for his country – during which he scored two spectacular goals in a thrilling 3-3 draw with eventual champions Portugal.

    However, a combination of missing the majority of pre-season with the Al Nahyan outfit, arriving during the stifling UAE summer and being away on World Cup 2018 qualifying duty with Hungary have led to underwhelming performances at club level.

    But after following up his first Clarets goal in a 2-1 defeat to Al Wasl a week ago with another in Friday’s 5-1 thrashing of Al Nasr, Wahda’s lethal marksman Tagliabue believes his new team-mate’s undoubted talent is starting to shine through.

    “I think now he is 85/90 per cent adapted,” said the Argentine frontman, whose second goal against the Blue Wave also arrived courtesy of a Dzsudzsak assist.

    “He has to adapt to everything; the team, the coach, the weather. Also he needs confidence and I think from the last game against Wasl and today he has got a lot of confidence. Also he has scored two goals and this is very good for him.”

    Also telling in Friday’s morale-boosting victory against struggling Nasr was the fact it was the first time Dzsudzsak completed 90 minutes for his new side, having played 60, 68, 45, 45 and been an unused substitute in his previous five games.

    After a dour opening half, the game burst into life in the second period with both Dzsudzsak and Chilean Jorge Valdivia at their creative best, while several of Wahda’s youngsters also shone, like Mohamed Al Akbari, Mohammed Al Menhali and Khalid Bawazir.

    Tagliabue netted a hat-trick in the game which puts him on 73 Arabian Gulf League goals for Wahda in 75 games since joining in the summer of 2013. And the prolific frontman is enjoying playing with the 85-times capped Hungarian.

    “We are starting to see the best of him,” added the 31-year-old.

    “He’s a very nice player. He plays very well. He didn’t do pre-season with us, he came (two months ago) and after one week he went away with his national team, he came back after two weeks and it is difficult to adapt like this.

    “If he don’t go to the national time he would have adapted more quickly, but the players have helped him since he’s arrived in the team from a new country and I think he is already starting to adapt and he will show who he is.”

    Dzsudzsak celebrated his goal, Wahda’s third and the one that killed the game off, by high-fiving every single member of the Wahda bench as well as celebrating with the players on the field in what was a heartwarming moment.

    “The celebration meant a lot to him and shows he is already be a popular member of the squad,” added Tagliabue.

    “As a person he’s great and he gets on with everyone here. He’s social outside of the club too. When he scored he ran over to Ismail (Matar) and we all have a good relationship.”

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