Crespo: Proud to Represent the Nation in Every Tournament
In a pre-match press conference ahead of Al Ain’s game against Auckland City in the Intercontinental Cup, Argentine coach Hernán Crespo expressed confidence in his team’s readiness. He emphasized that while the task will not be easy, the “Boss” is prepared to face a strong opponent. Crespo expressed his pride in representing the UAE on the global stage as one of six teams from around the world competing in the tournament.
Crespo acknowledged the importance of the challenge, stating, “We feel the responsibility of representing the nation, and we must prove our superiority in this prestigious competition. We respect all our opponents, and we know the importance of playing on home soil in front of our fans. We must take advantage of this and fight to make our supporters happy both on and off the pitch.”
Regarding defensive mistakes in previous big matches, Crespo dismissed concerns, noting that mistakes are part of football, but he is confident his team has learned from them and will avoid repeating errors. He praised the tactical awareness and professionalism of his players.
When asked about the absence of key players Yahya Nader and Khalid Al-Hashemi, Crespo assured that the squad is well-prepared to compensate for such gaps. He highlighted that Al Ain has a long season ahead, competing in seven tournaments, and thus, all players need to be ready for every challenge.
On his knowledge of Auckland City, Crespo revealed that he analyzed the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, discussing all necessary details with his players after reviewing footage of their matches.
