Al Shabab coach Marcos Paqueta is looking to get off to a perfect start in the GCC Champions League to help “save” the club’s season.
The Dubai team are in Saudi Arabia to take on Al Shoalah on Tuesday night in a competition won by an Emirati side for four of the last six years – including Shabab in 2011.
Although the club would prefer to be playing in the more prestigious AFC Champions League at this time of year, the Eagles are in relatively decent shape so far this season.
They remain in the title hunt, sitting second behind Al Ahli in the Arabian Gulf League, but they have been poor in the other cup competitions, being knocked out of the President’s Cup and the UAE League Cup.
With Al Ahli looking very strong favourites to win the league title, Paqueta is pinning his trophy hopes on the GCC Champions League, starting today.
“We have every chance of success in this competition,” the Brazilian said. “Since it is at the beginning anything can happen from here.
“Generally, we are focusing on the two remaining competitions (AGL and GCC Champions League) for us, to save our season.”
Another Dubai club play on Tuesday with Al Nasr hosting lowly Qatari outfit Al Khor.
The Blue Wave go into the game fresh off a 1-0 win over Al Ain and are expected to field a full strength side with Eder Luis the only likely absentee.
