Al Ahli captain Luis Jimenez has revealed revenge will be in the air when the Arabian Gulf Super Cup kicks off against Al Ain.
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The Arabian Gulf League-winning Red Knights meet their President’s Cup-holding opponents tomorrow [Friday] in a traditionally season-opening clash that had to be moved more than six months to accommodate unprecedented demands on the fixture list.
The combatants have fought regularly for domestic silverware during the last three campaigns, Ahli edging a penalty shootout in the 2013 Super Cup.
Who will win Super Cup .. Al Ain or Al Ahli? http://t.co/r6ale8twKV … pic.twitter.com/zTRPFckT2Z
— Arabian Gulf League (@AGL_Sports) March 23, 2015
This rivalry also enjoyed a new chapter in May, the Boss’ Omar Abdulrahman-inspired 1-0 victory denying their rivals an unprecedented quadruple.
Chile midfielder Jimenez declared that defeat will be playing on the minds of his team-mates in Abu Dhabi this weekend. He said: “Al Ain are a good team. In the last few seasons we have had a lot of games and a lot of finals between us.
“We have fought for the Arabian Gulf League, President’s Cup, Arabian Gulf Cup and Super Cup. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. “Nobody has ever taken four titles in the UAE.
It would have been incredible, but we lost the President’s Cup to Al Ain. “For sure, we want to take this moment. Playing against Al Ain is motivation enough. It is also a final, it is Al Ain, it is a cup – we have many things to motivate us.” Jimenez has urged his teammates to step up and prove their enduring class tomorrow [Friday].
“It is difficult after one season in which you take almost all the trophies,” the 30-year-old said. “All the people expect something from us. “We are a good team; for me we have the best players in the league – our local players and professional players. But the name is not enough. You have to show something on the field.”
UAE defender Essa Santo echoed his skipper’s sentiments, and said: “This is one of the biggest ways to save something, to come out of this season with at least one positive thing.
“It would show that we still exist. Two tournaments have gone away, and we still have two to play in.”
