Runaway Arabian Gulf League leaders Al Ain must treat the clash with Al Dhafra the same as last Sunday’s high-intensity Al Clasico derby against Al Jazira, according to coach Zlatko Dalic.
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The Boss will look to secure their six-point advantage gained from victory in that fixture tomorrow (Friday) when they face the long trip west to Madinat Zayed.
“We will continue focusing game-to-game,” Dalic said. “Al Dhafra is a tough team and we will take it in the same way as we played against Al Jazira.”
Meanwhile, there will be no complacency from third-placed Al Shabab when they host a Bani Yas side ailing from three-successive losses tomorrow.
The Sky Blues’ 5-2 thumping by Sharjah last time saw a once-promising campaign continue to stall.
“We continue to have faith in ourselves, but we know that Bani Yas is a very good team that are wounded by losing their last three games,” Hawks boss Caio Junior stated.
Al Wahda boss Sami Al Jaber has insisted his recent heated dismissal was a one-off incident ahead of the clash at Al Wasl today (Thursday).
Al Jaber, 42, joined opposite number Caio Junior in being sent from the dugout during a tetchy ending to Sunday’s 1-1 draw against immediate rivals Shabab.
The result means the Saudi Arabia legend is yet to taste victory in his two Arabian Gulf League games since taking over the fourth-placed outfit last month.
“With apologies, this was the first time I entered discussion about the rules and frameworks with the knowledge that I demanded my rights,” Al Jaber said.
