Boss Walter Zenga is under no illusion that he faces a “mission impossible” to salvage bottom-placed Al Shaab’s sorry Arabian Gulf League return.
Zenga, 55, was faced with the enormous task of turning around the Commandos’ poor campaign when he was jettisoned in last month after his departure from Serie A outfit Sampdoria.
Results have yet to improve under the experienced ex-Al Ain, Al Nasr and Al Jazira coach, Saturday’s 4-1 thrashing by title-chasing Al Ahli leaving the club on a paltry two points at the halfway stage.
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A gargantuan 10 points separates them from top-flight safety, but the legendary former Italy and Internazionale goalkeeper is sure he can perform a miracle in 2016.
He said: “When I accepted this job, I knew that it was like a mission impossible. But I tried to give the team something that before wasn’t in the hands of the team.
“I complain only for one game in Al Nasr that we didn’t play. But in all of the other games, we just tried to do something.
“At Al Jazira, we played an amazing game and lost 5-1. At home against Al Ain we played a great game and we lost 4-2.
“Today (Saturday), until that red card, we were in the game. It is difficult to completely change the face of the team when you are to play against Al Ain, Al Nasr, Al Ahli and Al Jazira in their stadium.
“Al Shabab came here after six games in where they haven’t won and you haven’t got your squad. You need 20 days to understand what’s going on and then you start to play game-by-game.”
Listening to Walter Zenga’s @AlShaabClub presser from last night. Great to have big characters like him back in the #AGLeague @Sport360
— Matt Monaghan (@mattmonaghan360) December 27, 2015
Zenga’s UAE comeback after his absence for 2014-15 has not been kind thus far. His five AGL matches have all been lost, with 21 goals conceded and just six scored.
December 15’s 2-0 win against Bani Yas in the Arabian Gulf Cup provided a boost, which was Shaab’s first in any competition this term.
The Italian has been forced to work with a weak squad inherited from Egyptian Tarek El Ashry, who was sacked in early November
after overseeing eight losses and two draws.
The opening of the winter transfer market on Thursday provides Zenga with the opportunity to make the necessary changes and he was convinced he can be successful if the Shaab hierarchy “follows my suggestions”.
“I have the solution,” he said while laughing. “Don’t worry. Yes.
“It’s normal that I arrive here and the squad was already done and I cannot change anything. Now is the time for change and I hope that the club follows my suggestions.
“Don’t worry. You’re going to see. You’re welcome. I hope that the club is going to do what I request.
“If not, I don’t know what I can say. It’s very difficult then.”
The scale of the problems facing Zenga was exemplified in the weekend thrashing by Ahli.
His inexperienced side fell behind within three minutes as skipper Mansour Alblooshi comically misjudged the flight of an Everton Ribeiro cross, granting striker Lima carte blanche to turn and fire home.
Winger Abdulla Eissa then let down his struggling team-mates as he was dismissed for a petulant kick at Ribeiro, Shaab’s 10 men collapsing to a 4-1 loss in the second half.
Bad luck also befell Zenga before kick-off, French forward Michael N’Dri only fit enough for a spot on the bench as his other three foreign playes were ruled out.
“Two were injured (centre-back Celio Santos and forward Matias Donoso), one was suspended (midfielder Amr Al Sulaya) and Michael hasn’t been training these last few days,” Zenga bemoaned.
“For that reason, we started with all of the local players and I repeat – beside the mistake after two minutes – I think Al Shaab played a good first half, with a lot of attention, application and intensity.”
