Wasl coach Abdulrahman confident of Al Ain upset

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  • Big ask: Action from Al Ain’s 3-0 home AGL win over Al Wasl back in January.

    Al Wasl’s understudy coach Saleem Abdulrahman is confident he can cope with the upheavel at the club and dump giants Al Ain out of the President’s Cup.

    The former Cheetahs star will man the helm on a temporary basis with the club stating coach Gabriel Calderon, 56, is on a sanctioned “two-day vacation”. However, sources close to the Argentine on Tuesday confirmed he has been sacked.

    A daunting quarter-final against the 2014 winners and Arabian Gulf League runners-up awaits on Wednesday night. For assistant coach Abdulrahman, he was sure his side will ignore the furore and snatch a shock result at Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

    He said “My job is to deal with the team on the pitch and just to deal with this match. What will happen in the future, I do not know?

    “The players and me are just thinking about this match. We know it is a tough match, we are going to face a difficult team but I am sure our players will take responsibility.

    “We are going to continue what our coach wants. I expect it to be a very good match between two strong teams. Our preparation for the match is good. Al Ain is very good team and has very talented players – I expect the match to be beautiful to watch.”

    The teams come into the match in contrasting positions.

    Al Ain are juggling their resources ahead of the start of the AFC Champions League’s round of 16 next week, while Wasl limped home sixth in the top flight after just one win during their last seven matches.

    The Boss have also been stung by the loss of the AGL crown to Al Ahli, with Colombian winger and winter arrival Danilo Asprilla on a “personal mission” to claim the Cup in response.

    He said: “It is my great desire to get the trophy. I take it as a personal mission to win the President’s Cup.

    “It is a challenge which is important to me. I am looking forward to earning my first title with my new team.”

    Despite the difference in achievements during 2015/16, Al Ain boss Zlatko Dalic remained aware of Wasl’s strength.

    Forward Fabio De Lima was third top scorer in the AGL with 20 goals, but the Croatian pinpointed a veteran centre midfielder as a key threat to neutralise.

    He said: “Wasl possess several skilful players up front, such as Caio Canedo, Fabio De Lima and Rogerinho. But I think that the real danger begins from Hugo Viana.”

    The victors will proceed to the semi-finals, which will be played on Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21.

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