Al Wahda coach Javier Aguirre and Al Nasr supremo Ivan Jovanovic are both walking a tightrope ahead of their crucial clash in Abu Dhabi on Friday after poor starts to the season.
The Clarets have only lost once in four games but their defence of the Arabian Gulf Cup ended before it began as they failed to win any of their five matches.
Pressure is nothing new to experienced Wahda chief Aguirre. The Mexican has led Mexico and Japan at the World Cup while he also managed Atletico Madrid for three season, so rumpurs surrounding his future is nothing new.
“I am used to this pressure. Pressure is always in your job, it is normal,” said the 57-year-old. “The game is the same here as it is anywhere. If you are not winning, you are not at the level of the expectations of the owners or the fans, of course you are the first to come under scrutiny, but this is normal. The pressure is tough in any place
“This is the risk of my job. In any coaching job in the world if you lose two or three games in a row, everyone starts to get nervous, but this is part of the game and I know the rules.
“I have to focus on the next game. That is my job and I have to put all my energy into this. I can do nothing else. I cannot control all the rumours or situations surrounding me, the only thing I can do is put my best 11 on the field and try to win the game.”
The waves appear to be crashing around Blue Wave boss Jovanovic, meanwhile, following three defeats from four games.
Nasr were riding high just as little as nine weeks ago when new signing Wanderley scored a debut brace as Qatar’s El Jaish were thrashed 3-0 in the first leg of their AFC Champions League quarter-final tie.
However, since the former Sharjah hotshot’s Indonesian passport was deemed forged or falisifed, the scoreline was reversed and Nasr have been in freefall, losing five of their next nine games.
The club even took to Twitter on Monday to deny reports that Serbian Jovanovic was on the verge of being sacked.
نادي النصر ينفي الأخبار المتداولة عن إقالة السيد ايفان يوفانوفيتش المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي.
— AL Nasr Club (@ALNasrSC) October 25, 2016
