Jazira's season hinges on cup success

Martyn Thomas 12:47 19/04/2014
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  • Fruits of his labour: Walter Zenga is bidding to win a trophy in his first season in charge of Al Jazira

    Al Jazira take on treble-chasing Al Ahli in the Arabian Gulf Cup final on Saturday night determined not to see a once promising season peter out without a trophy.

    Having re-energised their challenge for the Arabian Gulf League following his arrival in October, Walter Zenga watched it falter once more as a run of four games without a win in the competition proved too many.

    Al Jazira’s President’s Cup assault fell at the first hurdle, and while they qualified for the AFC Champions League round of 16 for only the second time in their history in midweek, Saturday's game represents their last chance of finishing this campaign with some silverware.

    By contrast, the Red Knights have already wrapped up their sixth league title and with the President’s Cup final to come next month they arrive in Al Ain looking to take the next step towards an unprecedented domestic clean sweep.

    Their opponents from Abu Dhabi aren’t about to let them have it without a fight though.

    “It’s very important for us to win this title because we see that as saving the season,” Jazira playmaker Abdelaziz Barrada told Sport360°.

    “We are out already of the President’s Cup and the league, so we need to win this title. We need to represent Al Jazira well.”

    Morocco international Barrada has been an inspiration since his summer move from Getafe, scoring 14 times in all competitions including the goal — notched in the ninth minute of injury time — that tookthe semi-final with Al Dhafra to penalties.

    That dramatic win in the Western Region gave Jazira the chance to avenge the painful memory of their final defeat against Ajman 12 months ago.

    There are likely to be only three survivors from that game in Zenga’s starting line-up this evening and Barrada believes the final will have a very different script to last season’s showpiece — and Jazira’s last meeting with Ahli, that ended in a 3-1 defeat.

    “The team must be stronger than last season and the last match and don’t make the same mistakes as the previous matches,” Barrada added. “The final will be very different.”

    Barrada says he is happy in Abu Dhabi regardless of whether they win tonight, and the France-born star believes there is a bright future in store at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

    “I’m very happy,” he added. “We’ve had a good season so far, but it’s not yet finished.

    “We wanted to qualify for the next round of the AFC Champions League and of course win the Arabian Gulf Cup against Al Ahli. But anyway, we are a very young team and we have a good future."

    One youngster who is sure to have a big say in that is teenage forward Ahmed Rabea. The 18-year-old joined the club as a 12-year-old, and has been given his start under Zenga this season, scoring six goals in all competitions.

    He is likely to start again this evening, in an advanced role on the left-hand side of Jazira’s midfield.

    I have had a good season so far with Al Jazira and hopefully in the future I will have a good future with Al Jazira, and hopefully my team-mates will help me,” he told Sport360° ahead of the final.

    “I’m so proud to play with these kind of players. I’m so proud… and they always give me advice and help me to be my best every time.”

    “I believe we will have a good future [us young players] because we are playing alongside big names now with Al Jazira. We are learning from them every day and we are gaining experience.”

    Rabea is one of a clutch of young talent emerging under Zenga, with the likes of Ahmed Al Attas, Salim Ali, Khalfan Mubarak and Sultan Al Suwaidi all involved with the firstteam.

    And he revealed that far from apprehension there is an excitement building in the squad that he hopes will carry them on to final glory in Al Ain tonight.

    “It will be a very strong match and hopefully we will win this title,” he said. “We are so excited, all the team is excited. And it will be a positive point to save the season.”

    The key men

    Al Ahli 

    Hugo Viana
    The Portuguese is the calming influence in the Ahli midfield; assured in possession, his positional sense alongside Majed Hassan is such that the defence rarely gets exposed. Viana’s duel with Jucilei and Khamis Esmail will have significant bearing on the outcome.

    Grafite
    Capable of producing a goal out of absolutely nothing, Grafite is also adept at linking the play and bringing the likes of Ismail Al Hamadi and Ciel into play. Will fancy his chances of bullying Jazira’s centre-backs having scored in each of the two meetings between the sides.

    Al Jazira

    Al Khaseif
    With Abdulla Mousa’s continued absence, Shin Hyung-Min will likely fill in again. The makeshift nature of their back four will put added importance on, Khaseif. An excellent shot stopper, the UAE No1 is prone to punching when put under pressure and he will need to be at his best.

    Abdelaziz Barrada
    The man who makes the Abu Dhabi side tick in the final third, it is no coincidence his best displays have been reserved for the AFC Champions League. Comes alive on the big stage and Jazira will need his probing passing if they are to unlock the Al Ahli defence.

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