Al Jazira coach Eric Gerets has warned his players they must develop a killer instinct if they want to emerge Arabian Gulf League champions this season.
The Belgian watched his team take and then squander a vital lead against title rivals Al Wahda in the dying stages at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium on Sunday night.
Victory would have seen Gerets’ side go above their opponents at the top of the table and he admitted his disappointment at them failing to finish the job.
He said: “If you score a goal in the 86th minute, you think it’s over. I wanted to bring on Yaser Matar for the last remaining minutes but then they scored the goal and it cost us two points.
“There were only two chances in the first half. In the second half we had a little bit of the possession, because they played a little bit much on the counter which is logical and I can only repeat that if you score a goal in the 86th minute the match should be finished.
“If you score then you should have the three points.
“To draw is a big disappointment but we’ve could also lost the game.”
Gerets chose to include UAE national team players Ali Khaseif and Ali Mabkhout in his starting XI, who both competed at the Gulf Cup.
Mabkhout, who finished the top-scorer at the tournament with five goals, was replaced by Ahmed Rabea in the 75th minute and Gerets insisted the in-form forward was fit and ready to play.
“He said he had a little problem on his abductors on both sides. He got some treatment from the physiotherapist but he said he was fit and wanted to play.
“If the top-scorer said he wants to play then you put him in the team.”
Meanwhile Gerets’ opposite number, Wahda boss Jose Peseiro, said he was satisfied with the result.
He said: “I think it was a fantastic match and both teams tried to win.
“In the first half, we created two opportunities. And in the second half, we created three opportunities.
“I think everybody saw such a fantastic match and my players showed a lot of commitment and good spirit.”
