Defiant Eric Gerets is convinced he has no worries about his future as Al Jazira boss despite losing the Arabian Gulf League title battle.
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Rivals Al Ain were crowned champions on Friday night with three games remaining after the Pride of Abu Dhabi were thumped 4-2 at home by struggling Bani Yas.
The chastening loss – their second in a row – saw the fight at the top come to a premature end, second-placed Jazira now trailing by 10 points with only nine to play for.
Al-Ain has won the UAE Arabian Gulf League for the 12th time after second-placed Al-Jazira lost 4-2 to Bani Yas pic.twitter.com/eTfWRXKRGS
— Captain Mousa Morad (@Captain_Morad) April 17, 2015
Gerets was headhunted on a two-year contract from Lekhwiya last summer with a reputation firmly established as one of the finest coaches operating in the Middle East.
But a debut campaign of relative failure could put him on dangerous ground, his current employers hiring six coaches in the last three years.
When asked whether the failure to add to the top-flight crowns earned at the Qatar giants and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal had him concerned about his position, the straight-talking former Belgium defender replied: “When you are 60 years old and had the life I have had as a coach, I am not worried any more.
“This is because I think that there will be an end to this period and the team will be stronger again. Maybe not strong enough to win the title and President’s Cup [this season], but stronger again.
“That is my job. Of course I am worried, I am worried because we lost a stupid game. Worried about what will happen? Yes, to make my team better.
“But my job? I think there is no need now because my relationship with the people at the top of this team is good.”
The post-AGL President’s Cup is the main source of redemption left for Gerets during a campaign which also featured a disappointing AFC Champions League play-off round reversal to Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor.
His side have been characterised by haphazard defending throughout, their 39 goals conceded in the AGL giving them the fifth-worst record.
Without specifying any areas, Gerets declared talks had already begun with the club’s hierarchy to improve any weaknesses next term.
He said: “What we need in the team for the next season, the Sheikh [Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan bin Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan] knows it already.
“It is clear for him and me what we need for next season. Hopefully, we are able to do those things we have in our mind.”
He added: “Even if we buy five players, you are not sure to win the title. OK, I was champion in Qatar and my ex-team [Lekhwiya] won it again this season. But they are not certain to be champions next season.
“[In the UAE] Al Ain will again be fighting to remain champions, Al Ahli will have a better team, Al Wahda will be there, Al Shabab have been close for a couple of seasons and we also want to win the title.
“Even if we do the things in our minds with the management to be stronger next season, we are not sure. But one thing is sure, we will be damn close next season to winning the title.”
