Haydarov sets sights on creating new chemistry

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  • Brothers: Villanueva (l) and Haydarov.

    A familiar presence has been glaringly absent for Al Shabab midfielder Azizbek Haydarov.

    Throughout the Uzbekistan anchorman’s first five seasons at Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, his main task was delivering the ball to playmaker Carlos Villanueva. This partnership was a successful one, the Hawks never dropping outside the Arabian Gulf League’s top five and lifting the 2015 GCC Club Cup.

    But a fitful 2015/16 saw time being called on the Chile creator’s seven-year association. In his place, Tomas De Vincenti was snapped up from APOEL.

    The 27-year-old has adapted well, scoring twice during four promising appearances. For Haydarov, he had seen enough to believe that a patient approach will see Shabab rewarded with another South American star.

    “I played with Carlos for five season, we understood each other without talking,” the 31-year-old said. “We could understand each other with just our eyes.

    “We need time to get the same relationship with Tomas (De Vincenti), to improve. I know we have to give this one time and I believe this player will get even better.”

    Villanueva would go on to become the longest-serving foreign player of the professional era after being picked up from Audax Italiano for $5 million in May 2009. He scored 31 goals in 117 top-flight games, with his only spell away a four-month loan at Universidad Catolica during spring 2013.

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    The 30-year-old has experienced a summer of change, welcoming the birth of a child and signing for Al Ittihad. He has since scored once in three Saudi Professional League appearances.

    Haydarov gushed about his ex-team-mate, wishing him “only good luck” for the future. He said: “A baby has come for Villanueva, so congratulations to him for his very beautiful boy. I am very happy for him.

    “He will be a good father and I wish him only good luck.”

    The new regime at Shabab has started strongly, winning all four competitive fixtures. Despite this promising beginning, Haydarov refused to ramp up expectations ahead of tomorrow’s hosting of Al Ahli in the Arabian Gulf Cup.

    “I am not the coach, so it is difficult to talk about this,” said the July 2011 pick up from Bunyodkor, who has gone on to net 13 times in 102 top-flight matches for the Dubai-outfit. “We have discipline, we have motivation, we have something more to improve.

    “I don’t want to speak too big. We will just sit and wait until May.”

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