Despite a perfect start and a 4-1 win over Qatar in Group C, UAE coach Mahdi Ali has told his players he expects an improved display against Bahrain today in the same Canberra Stadium.
If Qatar fail to defeat Iran in Sydney, a win for the UAE means a place in the last eight but Ali is more concerned by his team’s level.
“We don’t want to speak about quarter-finals or semi-finals as we have an important game and we have to think about that,” said the
Whites’ coach.
“There are no easy games and I hope we give a better performance than we have in our first game.”
Ali has no injuries to concern him but is a little wary of a Bahrain team he feels are better than their dysfunctional reputation.
Marjan Eid is their third coach in six months, but Al-Ahmar looked reasonably solid in their opening 2-0 defeat to Iran.
Ali said: “We are playing against the team, not the coach. Bahrain have changed from two years to today, the way of playing has
changed. They played a good game against Iran and only conceded two off corners. They have a good team.”
Despite the fact that Bahrain need at least a draw in Canberra, UAE defender Walid Abbas is not expecting an offensive onslaught from a team that failed to score a single goal at the recent Gulf Cup, finishing bottom of their group.
“I don’t think that Bahrain will gamble, they are going to play with caution,” he said. “I hope that we take all our chances to score goals.”
With Ahmed Khalil and Ali Mabkhout scoring twice each against Qatar, the UAE go into the clash with their strikers in top form.
Mabkhout’s brace makes it seven goals in his last six caps.
While coach Ali was visibly bored with another question from the Australian media about star player Omar Abdulrahman, who did his continental reputation no harm with an impressive display on Sunday, he was happy to laud the qualities of one of the most dangerous strikers in Asian football.
“Ali Mabkhout has been with the national team for a long time and has a lot of experience after his time at the London Olympics and at the 2009 Under-20 World Cup,” added Ali.
“He has played in many competitions and played many times for the national team. Now this is being reflected in his play and he is scoring many goals.”
Bahrain know that while a draw will keep them alive until the final matchday, a win is necessary to put them back in quarter-final contention.
Coach Eid neatly avoided a question asking whether defeat would spell the end of his short tenure, but he knows what is needed.
“We want three points and this is important for the team,” he said.
“We know that UAE is dangerous in their attack but we have a style to stop this situation – we have our strong points too.”
