I have to begin the resumption of my column with an apology. I made a big mistake when I previously said Al Ahli have a squad that can win everything.
Thursday’s goalless draw against second-bottom Ajman at least ended a run of successive defeats, but the Arabian Gulf League champions find themselves a distant sixth.
It is very difficult to understand what is going on there. They have shown no performances and got no results – this is so strange for someone outside of the club to see.
The title is gone for them, there are only nine games left.
In my humble opinion, there have been too many changes and too many decisions made that I cannot put my finger on.
They made three changes again in the winter market, further putting summer signing Carlos Munoz on the sidelines. Wow, this is a lot.
From my experiences last season at Al Jazira, this is not always the best way to go about it. One of my signings was good, the other so-so.
It is hard for players to come in during January [transfer window period]. I think it is always better to get your big business done in the summer, so that the squad you start the season with is the one you finish with.
I still cannot understand why they let Hugo Viana leave for Al Wasl in the summer. I call players like him a ‘safe player’.
When your player has a problem, pass to him. When you want to get your message across as a coach, you talk to him.
But we must not forget that the AFC Champions League starts for Ahli on Wednesday and there is still the President’s Cup.
There has been good and bad news for UAE football this week. I will start with the good, and that is Omar Abdulrahman signing a new three-year contract at Al Ain.
This sets a good example to young, local players to love the team you are at and be thankful to them for the opportunity they give you.
People speak about regrets at not making a move to Europe, but the only regret is mine. I wish I had stayed at such a fantastic club as Al Ain for more than six months.
If Omar is to ever make the move to Europe, I believe that Spanish football would be perfectly suited to talented players like himself, Ali Mabkhout and Habib Fardan.
The bad news was seeing Jazira and Al Wahda exit the ACL before the group stage. You learn so much in that competition as the standard is so high.
The AGL breaks now until March 7 to give space to the ACL. It only seems like a week ago since the last long stoppage for the Asian Cup.
It is like a writer being told to put away his laptop after working for five weeks, and then being allowed to pick it up again just a month later.
This is not ideal as a coach, but you do have your plan mapped out in the summer to cope with these disruptions.
