It was business as usual for Quique Sanchez Flores on Monday night as he put his Al Ahli side through their paces ahead of their upcoming Pro League clash against Dibba Al Fujairah.
Sanchez Flores had been linked with a return to former club, Valencia, after the Spanish outfit axed Mauricio Pellegrino on Saturday night following their 5-2 home defeat to Real Socieded.
But Monday’s that Ernesto Valverde, the former Espanyol and Olympiakos coach, is to take up the Mestalla hotseat until the end of the season has allayed any fears Ahli had that they could lose their popular boss.
Sanchez Flores, 41, cut a relaxed figure at training on Monday night, though, and having spoken previously of his fondness for life in Dubai remains committed as ever.
The Spaniard has made quite an impact at the Rashid Stadium since taking over from Ivan Hasek just over 12 months ago, leading the club to a first ever Etisalat Cup triumph last season.
Having penned a new one-year deal in the summer the Spaniard – hailed by Ahli chief executive Ahmed Khalifa as the best coach to have ever managed in the UAE – has set his sights firmly on winning the club’s first league title since 2009.
Dibba are the visitors on Thursday as sixth-placed Ahli look to return to winning ways after their 2-2 draw with Al Nasr last weekend.
The Red Knights have slipped six points behind Al Ain whom they beat 6-2 on the opening day of the season and know they must add consistency to their game if they are to launch a serious title bid.
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