Al Jazira coach Walter Zenga has backed his players to continue their unbeaten start to the AFC Champions League against Esteghlal tonight.
The Abu Dhabi club welcome the Iranian champions to the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium sitting top of Group A having picked up seven points from their opening three games.
Victory would therefore put Zenga’s side within touching distance of a place in the round of 16 for the only the second time in their history.
By contrast, bottom-placed Esteghlal have picked up just one point so far, from a 2-2 draw with Jazira in Tehran a fortnight ago.
Coach Amir Ghalenoei admitted yesterday that tonight’s game represented the last chance for his side to haul themselves back into contention for a last 16 place, but Zenga insisted that would not affect the way Jazira approached the fixture.
“We are focused on what we want and in my opinion it’s useless to think about the other team and what they are going to do. If you are focused on what you want you don’t have to worry about the other team and their situation,” the Italian said.
“We must be great for 90 minutes because in front of us we have a very good team. If we are going to be great for 90 minutes we will play a nice game and have a chance to win.
"I fully trust in my players and for me my players are the best in the world.”
Jazira are sweating on the fitness of playmaker Abdelaziz Barrada who was forced off in just the 12th minute of his side’s 0-0 Arabian Gulf League draw at Al Nasr last Thursday.
The Morocco international has three goals in the competition so far and would be a big loss for Jazira if he is ruled out.
Zenga added: “Of course Barrada is a very important player for us and through the help of the medical staff we will try everything to put him in the starting XI.”
Meanwhile, Ghalenoei has described his side’s next three games as “finals”, saying: “The next three matches are finals for us and I believe this match against Al Jazira is the last chance for us.
“In the first game in Tehran I thought we played very well but were not lucky."
