Dogged Al Nasr will not give up the fight for qualification to the 2017 AFC Champions League until it is mathematically impossible, according to playmaker Luis Jimenez.
A straight shootout between them and third-placed Al Wahda for the last spot guaranteed through the top flight seems most likely during the last two rounds.
Jimenez, 31, urged his teammates not to give up hope ahead of Thursday’s trip to already-relegated Al Shaab, despite being two points in arrears to the Clarets.
He said: “We still think it is possible, it is not mathematic. So, we should win both of our games.
“Now, we cannot think about Al Wahda. Because even if they lose and we don’t win, it is nothing. “We have to win and hope they don’t win both of their games.”
Both Wahda and Nasr in fourth are out of the President’s Cup, meaning they cannot claim entry by winning that. For fourth to secure entry, one of Al Ain or Al Ahli will have to lift it.
Nasr could advance to the knockout stages of Asia’s premier club competition for the first time next Wednesday if they avoid defeat at Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv Tashkent, but they will need to win the whole thing to gain a second-successive berth.
With a trip to lowly Sharjah on Friday and visit of mid-table Bani Yas on the final day of the season on May 8, the Clarets seem assured of remaining in the top three.
This would earn them a play-off berth for the group stage, although they lost a roller-coaster tie with Qatar’s Al Sadd to make it in 2015. The 23 goals of AGL top scorer Sebastian Tagliabue have been behind their success this term, with one more coming during Friday’s 3-0 thrashing of sixth-placed Al Wasl.
The Argentine, 31, is already dreaming of returning to the arena in which he previously scored four goals in eight appearances for Al Shabab Riyadh three years ago.
He said: “It is an amazing cup. Everyone wants to play in this tournament, but only a few teams in Asia can do a good show.
“I hope we can finish in the top three and then fight to play in the AFC Champions League. Now, we are in third place. We are looking forward and fighting for that. We want the chance to qualify. It is so important. “
Al Wasl are now behind us and I think their chance is finished.”
Al Shabab and Wasl are on 36 poins, three points adrift of Javier Aguirre’s club in possession. With only a pair of matches left, they are rank outsiders to make the ACL.
The latter are enduring a five-match winless streak, while Hawks boss Caio Junior is at the centre of speculation about his future.
