Eric Gerets says his Al Jazira side “need a boss” to rectify their defensive frailties after another rear guard horror show saw them lose to struggling Sharjah.
Jazira have an embarrassment of riches going forward and have played some scintillating football at times this season, but their Achilles Heel has long been their defence.
Gerets was a renowned international defender, earning 86 caps for Belgium, so he is irked by his team’s defensive misgivings more than anyone else.
In a pre-match press conference ahead of the Pride of Abu Dhabi’s daunting trip to Al Shabab today, he predicted that changes could be afoot in the January transfer window.
“To solve this problem in the future, in the centre of our defence we need a boss, a player who organises and is the captain of the defence,” said Gerets.
“We need a player who is very well constructed in this position. Who gives good, quick, hard balls into the midfield, on the ground.
The 60-year-old, who played at three World Cups for Belgium, believes a defender is all Jazira are missing, and said he will speak to the club’s board about signing a centre back in January.
“We have the international players at the front. We have young guys who can replace them well. Priority No1 is to have a leader in defence.”
Jazira welcome back the league’s top scorer, Mirko Vucinic, and Argentine playmaker Manuel Lanzini for a game Gerets agrees is the biggest of the season.
“Of course, it is the biggest game so far and they (Shabab) are a title rival,” he said. “They are first because they are playing well. They deserve to be on top of the table.
