Al Wahda manager Jose Peseiro has refuted suggestions his side are any weaker for not bringing in a raft of new signings over the summer.
The Portuguese, who replaced Karel Jarolim in November 2013, took a struggling eighth placed side to a runners-up spot last season and has largely stayed loyal to the squad that delivered such an impressive transformation after he took charge.
City rivals Al Jazira have added both quality and quantity, including Montenegrin Mirko Vucinic, who arrives from Serie A champions Juventus after 14 seasons in Italy.
Peseiro, though, is not concerned that the Clarets have chosen to retain the status quo, while champions Al Ahli have dipped into the transfer market, as have the likes of Al Nasr, Al Shabab and Al Ain.
The former Braga manager is also not getting too carried away with his side’s opening day demolition of new boys Kalba.
“Five-nil is important but it’s only three points. We could have scored more,” he said. “It was a good result. We played a good game. We controlled most of the game and played with patience.”
Asked what he thought about speculation that he had not sufficiently added to his squad over the summer, the affable 54-year-old said: “Football needs stability and the game can only develop with one model of training. It is important to keep the same players at the club.”
Kalba’s new coach Vinicius Eutropio, who played for a club called Shark back in his native Brazil, expects the big clubs to be circling his newly promoted side this season.
“Our challenge will be for the new players to play with each other.”
Of the Wahda defeat, Eutropio added: “It was a good first half but, unfortunately, we conceded two goals at the end and that gave Al Wahda the legs in the second half.
“The biggest challenge for this team is to be a unit. In the second half, Al Wahda were a good unit and they have played together for a long time.”
