Al Shabab “are not going to stop trying” to seal a top-three Arabian Gulf League finish despite suffering a heart-breaking injury-time defeat to Al Jazira, according to star playmaker Carlos Villanueva.
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The Hawks have taken flight under new boss Caio Junior this term, signalling their intent by beginning with a 4-2 come-frombehind victory at champions Al Ahli.
Shabab dropped down to fourth this week, two points behind leaders Jazira with a game in hand after securing a 4-3 victory against them.
Chile international Villanueva insisted the painful nature of the loss has not dampened the ambitions of a club determined to go one stage further and secure an AFC Champions league qualifying spot.
“Our confidence is still high,” the 28-year-old said. “We believe we are a strong team, we believe we can fight for the top three during the entire season.
“We still have a chance as the tournament is very equal, with many teams fighting for the first position. That helps everybody, as everybody is dropping points.
“Now, I think Al Ain are getting very strong. I think they will be the team we have to beat for No1. “We are not going to stop trying. We will try our best until the end, giving our all game-by-game.”
The momentum swung wildly in a classic encounter at Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium on Sunday, the hosts roaring back to 3-2 ahead after being 2-0 down only for Ali Mabkhout to complete his hat-trick in the 93rd-minute to secure victory for Al Jazira.
“Everybody was very sad in the changing room,” former Blackburn Rovers loanee Villanueva said. “That is very understandable as we played a very good game.
"We were losing 2-0 then came back to 3-2. It was then 3-3, but we did not deserve to lose.
“We could have been ahead. I lost the ball and they counter-attacked to score in the final minutes, we are very sad and disappointed.
“I still believe we are a very strong team. Nobody will be able to beat us easily this season.
“We fought like always, we tried very hard like every single game. You could see how we came back.
“That is the face of Al Shabab, we always fight. We went home with empty hands even though we deserved a bigger prize.”
Marcos Paqueta ended a successful two-year spell at the helm last summer to return to Qatar’s Al Gharafa. Ex-Jazira boss Caio Junior has been a sharp appointment thus far, with Villanueva noting a warmer dynamic between the current incumbent and his squad.
He said: “There have not been big changes between the managers, as they have similar styles. They like ball possession and to be very offensive.
“But, some movements and tactics during the game are different and also the relationship between Caio Junior and the players are a bit different. The squad are more comfortable with that.”
