New Bani Yas boss Luis Garcia has told the club’s administrators to get real about their Arabian Gulf League aspirations after seeing the Sky Blues’ winless Arabian Gulf League start continue with a 2-1 defeat to table toppers Al Wahda.
Garcia, 41, was given the remit upon arrival this summer to rapidly improve the Bani Yas Stadium-outfit’s fortunes after last term’s ninth-placed finish. Two promising but frustrating draws had come in the opening fixtures prior to last night’s reversal.
Reflecting on his first competitive games in charge, the Spaniard declared the board needed to line their ambitions up with reality.
“I cannot understand the administration,” he said. “They told me Bani Yas is strong. Now, I know Bani Yas is not strong. I cannot take the first four places.
“We will see the results for the rest of the season. Everybody can say I am at the top but I know I am not at the top.”
Momentum is the key intangible in sport. Those that possess it like Wahda can be second-best for much of the running but escape with a deflected Adel Hermach winner to continue a perfect start.
Conversely for Bani Yas, a first three-point haul will seem all the more elusive despite pushing title contenders hard.
Coach Jose Peseiro cut a frustrated figure, dismayed at the Clarets’ stilted display. On reflection, the experienced Portuguese will know championship triumphs are built on games like last night’s.
Wahda were hard on the eye, robbed of creator Damin Diaz by injury. A first half dominated by the slick hosts seemed set to inflict a first top-flight loss since January for 2014’s form team.
The opener followed controversy. Captain Yousef Jaber swept in a fine 10th-minute free-kick, Wahda goalkeeper Adel Alhosani escaping with yellow after clearing out frontman Carlos Munoz.
Bani Yas’ feel-good mood was gone within a minute of the restart as winger Amer Omar fired high from Mohamed Al Shehhi’s inventive looped pass.
A defensive scramble soon forced the second. The on-rushing Hermach slotting in low from the edge of the box via a nick.
The loss of Al Ahli-bound UAE full-back Essa Santo to injury made matters harder for the visitors.
The hosts laid siege at the death, Wahda exhibiting their mettle to hold firm despite the late dismissal of substitute Essa Abdulla.
