With the second half of the Arabian Gulf League season underway, it will be interesting to see how Jose Peseiro and Ivan Hasek fare at Sharjah and Emirates as both managers aim to revive their respective teams’ fortunes.
Peseiro’s dismissal from Al Wahda in January 2015 came as a surprise after he led the Abu Dhabi club to second place in the Arabian Gulf League in 2014/15, and was third when dismissed, just four points behind leaders Al Jazira and Al Ain.
Underwhelming spells in charge of Egyptian club Al Ahly and Portuguese sides Porto and Braga followed, but the Portuguese is back in the UAE confident of making an immediate impact on the fortunes of 10th-place Sharjah, who host Al Shabab on Friday.
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Read more
■ Caio: Al Wasl 'have to win' against Al Jazira to maintain title hopes
■ Al Ain fire Arabian Gulf League title warning as they take top spot
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“Our preparations have been excellent,” Peseiro said at his pre-match news conference. “We must concentrate for the entirety of the game by giving maximum effort on the pitch to achieve what we want.”
Emirates face champions Al Ahli in on Friday’s other early game, with Hasek more circumspect as his 12th-place side find themselves in a “tricky situation”.
“We all know the tough task we have against Ahli,” said Hasek, who led the Dubai club to successive league titles in 2007 and 2008 before quitting the Dubai club to take up the role as president of the Football Association of the Czech Republic. Emirates represent the Czech’s fourth assignment in UAE management, having also previously been at the helm of Al Wasl and Fujairah, with an unsuccessful spell back at Ahli in between.
“We need to create more opportunities against Ahli,” Hasek said. “We are playing with four attackers – two wingers, one out-and-out striker and one just behind him. This side have played against teams with strong defences such as Jazira, Wasl and Shabab, ... but we were able to create chances. I believe that our team is good, but we need to work harder.”
Al Ahli manager Cosmin Olaroiu said he faces a selection dilemma ahead of their visit to Ras Al Khaimah. “We have lost the services of many players throughout the season. On average, we are missing 10 players from each game,” he said.
In the late games, Al Jazira visit Al Wasl and Kalba host Dibba.
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