Gabriel Calderon surely saved Al Wasl from disaster last season. Nearly a year after taking charge he is targeting trophies. The Argentine arrived in October with Wasl second-bottom of the Arabian Gulf League.
Sorpresa : Gabriel Calderón, DT del Al Wasl donde estuvo Diego, Coach of the Year pic.twitter.com/eYlfbKcDeu
They had won only once, a narrow 1-0 triumph against Ittihad Kalba, who were relegated from the top flight and finised 16 points adrift of safety.
Their other results had been two draws and three defeats, but after the 55-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain player with 23 caps for La Albiceleste arrived, Wasl lost just six times in 27 outings – all of which led to a respectable sixth-placed finish.
Having turned things around, Calderon now hopes the Cheetahs can pick up the pace, and he is predicting “big things” ahead next season.
“Everybody knows that Al Ain, Al Ahli, Al Jazira have more money, but Al Wasl have fantastic fans, for me the best fans. We have a good club and a good team and I think, with this, sometimes without much money, it is possible to win something,” Calderon told Sport360 .
“I am predicting big things and I am confident for a big season. In football anything is possible, perhaps not to be champions but I am working for something. I want a trophy. I want to take something from the season. You have lots of competitions and a very good team, so Al Wasl are working to take something from all competitions.”
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You would think a man who took over a team looking a certainty for relegation and then completely transformed their campaign would be happy with his lot – if so, you do not know Gabriel Calderon.
“I always want more,” said the ex-Bani Yas head coach.
“When you finish fifth or sixth it is possible to do better. You can finish further up but after I came here after two or three months I am happy because we play very good football and we got very good results. We scored lots of goals and were good offensively.”
The Zabeel Stadium outfit were indeed good offensively. They scored 53 AGL goals. Only champions Al Ain and runners-up Al Jazira scored more. However, they also shipped plenty too, 45 in fact. Only Jazira and relegated duo Ajman and Kalba conceded more.
“To continue to improve the offensive statistics is my aim next season, but I also need better statistics in defence because to win something, you need to not concede too many goals and continue the same in attack. This is very important,” said Calderon.
“We conceded too many goals but the statistics after I arrived were very good and this year I am working for better statistics and better results.”
.@AGLeague transfers: #Caja joins @SharjahFC, @FujairahSC capture #Eze, writes @MattJones360 http://t.co/bLB4XkFgzR pic.twitter.com/bD74qmoSHs
— Sport360° (@Sport360) July 18, 2015
The former Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain national team boss admits he is happy at the club and with his players, buoyed by the permanent capture of Brazilian striker Caio Canedo last week, who linked well with compatriots Fabio Lima and the departed Ederson Alves.
“It is important to have very good players because when I arrived here everyone thought the players at Al Wasl were not very good,” he said.
“After I arrived they started to deliver and this is down to the work of the coaches, but the improvement would not have happened without good players. Last season proved that I have very good players. We proved we are a strong team. I have lots of confidence in the players, because now I can start the season with them and the coaches, so it will be easier.
“When you arrive to fight for the league you have to start well and get good results otherwise it is difficult. Now the players know me and know the tactics. The team will become stronger and I have confidence that the fans of Al Wasl will be happy.”
