Al Ahli’s Cosmin Olaroiu apologises after Al Wasl thrashing

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  • Pressure mounts: Cosmin Olaroiu (r).

    Embattled Al Ahli boss Cosmin Olaroiu has apologised for last night’s dire 4-0 home defeat to Al Wasl which has left serious doubts over his future at the club.

    – PLAY: Sport360 World Cup Stick Cricket 
    – Al Wasl thrash Al Ahli

    The Red Knights are the reigning treble holders after lifting the Arabian Gulf Super Cup, Arabian Gulf Cup and Arabian Gulf League during the Romanian’s first season at Rashid Stadium.

    Results have changed markedly since, exiting the group stage of the cup and sitting a distant seventh after the chastening loss to the Cheetahs which was booed by angered supporters.

    Speaking after the match, Olaroiu pointed to new signing Oussama Assaidi’s wasting of an open goal just before the hour mark with the score at 1-0 as a turning point.

    He said: “I want to apologise to the supporters. This is not very nice what we have done. But, when you make mistakes you have to pay a price. We paid this again.

    “Like always we try, we dominate the game then we make a mistake. We came back after the goal and had chances to score.

    “Football punishes you when you don’t respect him. We missed big chance at 1-0, then immediately psychologically and physically the problems were normal that we had.”

    Ahli folded badly against Al Wasl side that did not have to hit superhuman levels to leave the home of the champions with a memorable triumph. Olaroiu was animated throughout the contest, bemoaning every offside call from the officials. 

    Despite looking to outside factors to find reasons for the slide, the 45-year-old believed his players’ focus had been affected by their slide down the standings.

    He said: “This year, we have had a lot of problems with the national team players [who have been away at the Gulf Cup and Asian Cup] and with the referees. I saw three situations I guarantee were not offside.

    “They stopped one against ones. But today, we didn’t have any excuses. The level of concentration was not the same. Players were not being involved and when they do not believe they are involved in the fight for the title, they give up.

    “Especially here in this area, the coaches have many responsibilities and less decisions.”

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