All Set to Play Al Wasl Clash Match.. Sergiy Rebrov: We Missed the Official Matches and We Long for Seeing the Fans Again
The International Players Need to Join Recovery Programs to Be in Form for the Coming Challenges
“Unfortunately, we did not play any official matches due to the long break we had. I have to say that it is not easy for any team to stop playing matches for whole one month. Players are missing to play official real matches!” Sergiy Rebrov opened the pre-match press conference held today to talk about his team’s preparations for the quarter final match of the Pro League Cup scheduled to be held this Friday 17 December in Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.
The Ukrainian head coach stressed that all the squad players are in form and that they would miss Tunisia’s Yassine Meriah whom he wished all the best of luck and his national team in the semifinal match of the Arab Cup 2021.
He went on to say: “I believe playing three friendlies is enough. However, we could not compare friendlies with official matches. They represent a good chance for players who do not play official matches. As the coaching team, friendlies are good opportunity to evaluate the player’s progress and how ready they are for coming challenges. At any rate, we would assess the impact of the team’s preparations during the past period in our coming match against Al Wasl scheduled to be held the day after tomorrow.”
Regarding the team’s international level of readiness and whether they are in form to play the coming match against A Wasl, he commented: “I believe that the international are not only physically tired and exhausted, but also mentally. It was not easy for them to spend their whole time with their teams on the pitch and in hotel. I know they are proud to play for their national teams and we also feel proud of them; however, they have to join recovery program to be ready for all matches mentally. We plan to involve them in the team’s matches this month and all the players must be aware how important it is to be fully ready.”
He added: “We, as the coaching team, miss the official matches atmosphere. I wish to see the fans in the stands of Hazza bin Zayed Stadium and, as I stated several times before, we spare no effort to make the fans happy.”
He concluded his statement by addressing a message to the fans by saying: “I feel happy to see the fans behind the team in the stadium’s stands and not to watch the matches on TV. We have to work together to achieve the team’s desired goals.”
