Jazira boss Abel Braga denies reported dispute with striker Vucinic

Matt Jones - Editor 06:36 29/10/2015
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  • Storm clouds circling: Abel Braga.

    Al Jazira boss Abel Braga has flatly denied a bust-up with star striker Mirko Vucinic on the eve of Friday’s Al Clasico clash in Al Ain.

    The Brazilian boss has endured a tough start to life back at the club he guided to an Arabian Gulf League and President’s Cup double in 2011.

    While opponents Al Ain sit atop the AGL table with 15 points, Jazira lie a lowly seventh, seven points adrift of the Garden City side.

    This stuttering start was not what Jazira fans envisaged when Braga was announced as Eric Gerets’ successor in the summer, but he insists that despite their adverse results, there is complete harmony in the dressing room.

    “I ask media to stop making problems when results are not going well, like the coach is not happy with the players or the players are not happy with the coach. It’s not the case at Al Jazira,” the 63-year-old said in response to a press report that last season’s top scorer Vucinic is unhappy with his tactics.

    “I don’t have problems with Mirko Vucinic as the media have been talking about. I deny this totally. I have great players and great relationships with them. The atmosphere in the dressing room is very friendly and familiar.”

    Neither Montenegrin Vucinic, who has three goals from six games in all competitions, nor Ali Mabkhout, who has two in seven, have hit the heady heights of the previous season, where the duo combined for 41 goals in the AGL alone.

    But Braga said: “Ali Mabkhout is not on form right now but that is natural for the attackers to have this period, even Cristiano Ronaldo. You cannot expect the attacker to score all the time.”

    Braga claims continuity is a major reason why tomorrow’s opponents have started the season strongly, and denied that defeat in the Garden City would deal a fatal blow to Jazira’s title dreams this season.

    “I don’t feel defeat means we will be out of the title race,” he said. “It’s good for morale and confidence if we win, but it’s not decisive for the league title.

    “It’s an important match. Al Ain is a strong team. They are playing perfectly. They have great players who can make the difference, like Omar and Mohammed Abdulrahman, like Fellipe Bastos.

    “They are also keeping their coach so there is continuity there. Al Ain, Bani Yas, Al Shabab, Al Wasl, they all kept their coaches in the summer so they have this continuity which we don’t.”

    Zlatko Dalic’s team have bounced back from their only league defeat of the season, a 2-1 loss at Al Wahda prior to the international break, to record back-to-back victories, including an impressive 4-1 thrashing of Al Shabab last Friday.

    Veteran midfielder Helal Saeed is expecting a large crowd to be in attendance for the biggest game in UAE domestic football. And he says their support will be crucial to the home side strengthening their grip on top spot.

    “The attendance at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium on Friday evening will ignite the atmosphere of the summit with Al Jazira,” said the 38-year-old.

    “I expect a strong performance from both sides and everyone is aware of the size of the responsibility placed on their shoulders.”

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