Al Wahda manager Gregory Dufrennes has urged his team to keep fighting to keep the pressure on Adnoc Pro League leaders Al Ain.
They travel across Abu Dhabi to play Baniyas on Thursday hopeful of closing the gap on Al Ain, who play Emirates on Friday, to three points. Al Wahda are currently on 27 points from 14 games, one ahead of Shabab Al Ahli and Sharjah.
“We are playing for something,” the Frenchman said. “It’s better to fight for as much as we can to achieve something nice, instead to finish sixth or seventh position, and left with nothing to play for.
“So, this is good pressure on everyone and it’s important for us to win this game. It’s a very tough and important game for us. The fans as well as the players like this kind of games.”
Wahda began the second half of the Adnoc Pro League with a 4-2 victory over Al Orooba despite playing most of the game with 10 men following goalkeeper Mohammed Al Shamsi's red card.
“My concern is for everybody to repeat their performances in the matches that are coming up every three or four days,” Dufrennes said.
“For the players, it’s not easy. We are already scared not to get more yellow or red [cards] and injuries to the players, particularly when you have a lot of games left.
“It’s the beginning of our marathon, and our focus is to take one game at a time. We are aware it’s going to be a tough match and we want to be ready for that battle.
“Just to play Baniyas, we know it’s a difficult game. There are some players at Baniyas who crossed over from Wahda, and they may want to prove something to us.”
Dufrennes is sweating on the fitness of Abdulla Al Karbi but confirmed Brazilian defender Lucas Pimenta is unavailable to face sixth-placed Baniyas.
“Lucas has a long injury and we don’t know when he’s going to come back but Karbi has a little bit [of] pain but he will be able to be with us, but there is some question marks on his situation," Dufrennes said.
Al Dhafra take the long trip to Sharjah and Khor Fakkan will be at home to Al Wasl in Wednesday's other games.
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck
Kibsons%20Cares
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Family reunited
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.
She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.
She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.
The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.
She was held in her native country a year later.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km
On sale: now
Price: Dh149,000
The%20specs
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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The specs: 2018 Renault Koleos
Price, base: From Dh77,900
Engine: 2.5L, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 170hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 233Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.3L / 100km
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers Henderson, Pickford, Pope.
Defenders Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Coady, Dier, Gomez, Keane, Maguire, Maitland-Niles, Mings, Saka, Trippier, Walker.
Midfielders Henderson, Mount, Phillips, Rice, Ward-Prowse, Winks.
Forwards Abraham, Barnes, Calvert-Lewin, Grealish, Ings, Kane, Rashford, Sancho, Sterling.
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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