There will be no reining in of Al Jazira’s cavalier football during tonight’s ‘Al Clasico’ fight with Al Ain for top spot in the Arabian Gulf League, according to coach Eric Gerets.
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The Pride of Abu Dhabi travel to Hazza bin Zayed for the huge derby with a reputation earned for risk-seeking, attacking play.
This approach sees the second-placed challengers as both the top-flight’s top scorers with 46 strikes and with a defensive record inferior only to strugglers Fujairah, Ajman and Ittihad Kalba.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Gerets vowed his side will be drilled to strike at every possible moment.
He said: “Al Jazira plays attacking football and this is known to everyone because of the large number of goals we have made in the last rounds.
“But in the next game, we may experience a lot of scenarios that will be imposed on us – sometimes to rush, while playing with defensive concentration at other times.
“What I can confirm now is that we are going to attack whenever we have the opportunity.
“We’ve got the capability to create problems in the Al Ain defence and create scoring opportunities in front of their own goal.”
Jazira had been long-term leaders prior to a five-match winning streak ending with a shock 2-1 loss to Al Dhafra when last in domestic action a fortnight ago.
The momentous nature of this fixture was not lost on the ex-Belgium defender. Gerets is used to scrapping for silverware, lifting the league title at former clubs Lierse, Club Brugge, PSV Eindhoven, Galatasaray, Al Hilal and Lekhwiya.
“This is a great game to be sure, the games between Jazira and Al Ain are private and unique from the rest of the games,” the 60-year-old said.
“This game will be a more personal confrontation because it gives us a good chance to regain first place in the league table.
“Jazira is able to beat any other competitor if we are playing at our usual level and if the players give their best during the game.”
UAE international Abdulla Mousa echoed his manager’s sentiments.
He said: “This confrontation will be even more important because of the battle for the title. We go there with a desire to earn the win so we can regain the league leadership.”
