Gerets putting faith in current squad ahead of Emirates clash

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Keeping faith in his team: Gerets.

    Al Jazira coach Eric Gerets has de­clared he has no interest in delving into the transfer market to solve his side’s defensive issues as he wants to show faith in the current squad.

    The Pride of Abu Dhabi have be­gun the Arabian Gulf League in en­tertaining fashion, holding on for a 3-2 win at Ajman and conceding a late leveller in a 2-2 draw last time out against Fujairah.

    Only top-two Al Wahda and Al Ain have scored more times after two games, while newly-promoted Ittihad Kalba and lowly Ajman are the only teams to have conceded more.

    Gerets inherited a side this sum­mer which had the worst defensive record in the top-half of the table. Attempts to plug the gaps at the back have come to nothing, how­ever, with Mohanad Salem staying at Al Ain and early interest in Essa Santo not being followed up prior to his move to Al Ahli.

    The transfer window remains open until October 2.

    Gerets added: “I do not want to go into the transfer market now to get one or two local players. We tried a month ago, but finally it did not work.

    “Now I say we have to do it with the players we have here. I am sure they have much more qualities than maybe they showed in the last game.

    “It is for me a sign to have confi­dence in these guys.”

    Thursday’s opponents Emirates Club suffered an even more pain­ful ending than Jazira in the last round, conceding a 93rd-minute winner to Wahda.

    Gerets is sure both sides would be motivated by their setbacks.

    Recommended