Aguirre unfazed by mounting pressure

Denzil Pinto 10:15 02/10/2016
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  • Undeterred: Javier Aguirre.

    Having made three additions, including Hungary captain Balazs Dzsudzsak, to a squad that claimed a maiden Arabian Gulf Cup and a third-place finish in the Arabian Gulf League that clinched an AFC Champions League playoff berth last term, many would have expected the Mexican’s side to hit the ground running. But the Clarets have flattered to deceive, with their 2-0 defeat to Al Wasl in the AG Cup on Friday leaving them winless in five matches in all competitions.

    Former Atletico Madrid boss Aguirre admits the form of his side is a real concern but is not ready to press the panic button just yet.

    “There is always pressure in this job at the beginning or at the end. If you’re winning or not, the pressure level remains the same,” said the 57-year-old, who has managed Mexico and Japan at the World Cup.

    “Whatever your job you are doing, there is always pressure. I’ve chosen this job in football and it’s not different to any other. I’ve been doing this for 40 years as a player and coach, and it’s the way that you handle it.”

    First-half strikes from Fabio De Lima and Helder Barbosa were enough to condemn the holders to their second defeat in three games in Group A. Wahda sit sixth and face a stern task to finish inside the top two and have a chance of retaining their crown.

    “We gave many opportunities away in the first half and then with three substitutions in the second, our display changed,” Aguirre said of defeat to the Cheetahs. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t score. But there is always pressure in the game, especially in my job, from the beginning to the end.”

    Meanwhile, opposite number Rodolfo Arruabarrena has made a promising start at Zabeel Stadium since replacing compatriot Gabriel Calderon in June. His team have put themselves in a strong position to advance to the semi-finals, topping Group A with a perfect nine points from nine. Meanwhile, in the league, despite a 3-1 defeat to Al Jazira in the opening game of the season, the Cheetahs responded emphatically to thrash Al Dhafra 4-1 in their next outing.

    The Argentine has been impressed by his team’s displays and believes the positive results will give them a lot of confidence going into their upcoming matches.

    “I know what really matters is not what happens at the beginning of the matches but at the end of the games,” said the ex-Boca Juniors supremo. “But winning matches will give the players confidence.

    “In order for us to achieve a successful end to the season, we need to have a good start. Each match we win will give us motivation to win the next one. During the season we will have good and bad moments. Whenever we have bad moments, we need to make it better. We all know our goals and we will keep working hard to achieve it.”​

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