Zayed Champions Cup: Al Hilal battling fixture list and other Etoile du Sahel talking points

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  • (Twitter/@Alhilal_FC).

    Success can bring its own set of problems – and this is something Al Hilal are acutely aware of as Thursday’s Zayed Champions Cup final against Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel slots into an exhausting fixture list.

    The overworked Saudi Arabian heavyweights are in the midst of nine matches across four different competitions during April. Prevail during their sixth of the month and they’ll remain on course for a legendary quintuple, although their imminent opposition at Al Ain’s Hazza bin Zayed Stadium will intend to derail these lofty ambitions at the first time of asking.

    Here are the talking points:

    TESTING MAMIC’S METTLE

    Infamy or history await Hilal supremo Zoran Mamic.

    From being on the verge of the sack after defeats in the AFC Champions League and Saudi Professional League less than a fortnight ago, things are looking rosy again for the Croatian.

    His astuteness must now come to the fore when he attempts to pull off an expert juggling act that would spawn envious glances from a Cirque du Soleil performer.

    Vocal Hilal fans have rallied against tournament organisers on social media for this punishing period, while suggesting that they wouldn’t mind seeing the King’s Cup sacrificed.

    This will not be Mamic’s view. But could weariness play a defining role on Thursday?

    Resource management is key. This should mean fresh opportunities for the likes of underperforming January addition Hattan Bahebri, while resting key performers like weary ex-France striker Bafetimbi Gomis at apt moments.

    Get it right and Mamic will be a legend. He knows after less than three months in the hot seat, however, how quickly the mood can change if he doesn’t.

    ETOILE’S GUIDING HAND

    What can Hilal expect from the Tunisians?

    They sit a distant third in the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1, in contrast to the new SPL leaders. A gentle run to this decider has seen them edge past, largely, fellow North Africans, granted they do seem bound for the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals.

    None of their number featured in last month’s Tunisia squad.

    But in septuagenarian boss Roger Lemerre they boast a Euro 2000 winner with France. His wiles may be key to springing an upset.

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