Al Jazira coach Walter Zenga insists it will be just another normal game when his team takes on Paulo Bonamigo’s Sharjah tonight.
Three consecutive victories for the 2010/11 winners – including last weekend’s 2-1 triumph over reigning champions Al Ain – have helped Al Jazira move up into third. With Sharjah lying in fourth place with the same points tally (22) as the Abu Dhabi club, Zenga is wary of today’s opponents, but is not placing any extra significance on the encounter despite the presence of former Jazira coach Bon-amigo in the hosts’ dugout.
“They are a very good team with a strong mentality,” said Zenga. “They have shown until now that with their organisation, that you can achieve all the goals that you want to achieve.”
The last time the two sides met was in the UAE League Cup where Sharjah came out on top in a comprehensive 3-0 win in early October.
Gaining revenge is not even on Zenga’s mind. “We already played against Sharjah and lost 3-0 in the (UAE League) Cup. We know their coach prepared the match with more focus as he may have had something against us. I think he has already shown his qualities when his team beat us 3-0. For me it is not a special game. Every game for me is the same,” added Zenga.
Only goal difference separates the two sides, and with Al Jazira’s 2-1 win over Al Ain in their last match, Zenga insists his players’ concentration levels will not drop.
“My job is to keep my players all the time under pressure. I squeeze them every day and they know who will play two hours before the game. They know I keep them under pressure. I don’t do nothing strange and I’m not a magician. The only thing I do is keep them under concentration every day,” Zenga said.
“Playing well is simply not enough. We have to play well and do better than the opponents because playing good is not enough as they can do something better. The only thing a player can do better is by sacrificing themselves, working hard and keeping your concentration levels high.”
Defender Abdulla Mousa, who has played all but two matches in the competition this season, admits the team is eager to gain revenge for the October loss.
He said: “We are looking to get the three points because Sharjah beat us last time in the UAE League Cup. We will do our best to play as a team.”
Coming up against his old side, Sharjah boss Bonamigo has called on his midfielders to control the game from the start.
“This is a big game,” said the Bra-zilian. “And in a big game you need to succeed in the midfield battle. That is what we plan to do, to take control of the central areas, relieve the pressure on our defence and create as many opportunities as possible.”
