We Would Miss Ismael, Bambo, and Rayan in the Matchweek 5 Against Al Dhafra.. Pedro: I Agree with the Fans and Promise to Improve the Team’s Performance
Al Ain Team’s head coach, Portuguese Pedro Emmanuel, opened the pre-match press conference of his team’s match against Al Dhafra by stressing that the upcoming game against Al Dhafra is critical, considering our loss of two crucial points against Al Fujairah “although we were expecting to snatch the matches’ three points.”
In the media conference, he pointed out that the team must push themselves to the limit and be more focused.
Pedro hailed the opponent by stating: “We have to show respect to the guest team although we know that their last recent match’s result against Sharjah in which they lost 0-5 does not reflect their actual level of performance. They performed well and won all their past three matches. We also know that they have aggressive and fast strikers. This pushes us to focus on ourselves because it is a particularly important match, as I stated earlier.”
“You might have an idea how you would manage the upcoming match, but you have to develop this idea and work hard to improve our team’s performance and how the player should take the right decision when he is so close to the opponent’s goal,” he said.
He highlighted how his team is improving in scoring goals within the minimum number of shots against the opponent. “In our match against Al Sharjah, the team had 25 direct shots and scored only one goal. Meanwhile, during the team’s match against Al Fujairah, the players shot 17 ones directly to the goal and scored one goal.”
“I believe that this is one aspect that we could further improve it, in addition to boosting their level of focus as of the beginning of the match. We conceded two goals in the last two matches in the early minutes. Against Al Sharjah, we conceded the first goal at the 14th minute, and against Al Fujairah, we conceded the first goal at the 9th minute of the match. These are certain aspects that we could focus on with sights set to fix them. Indeed, this would make us better and more eligible to win Al Dhafra and the match’s three points,” Pedro stressed.
He said that winning the guest team would be their key target, and the plan is to score in the early minutes of the match, as well as to dominate the match and acquire the ball while focusing on winning the three points of the match, which is the most important thing for him.
Responding to a question on the fans’ feelings of anger and disappointment due to the team’s poor results and performance, he commented: “I agree with the fans and respect their point of view, simply because we are Al Ain. During the past four matches, we won only four points, and we did not expect that. However, I believe that the fans will be next to us all times.”
“I do not doubt that the coach will always be held responsible for the mistakes committed. I know the fans want us to achieve the best results, which we are trying to do. So, what we are responsible for is the hard work, raising focus, and fighting aggressively to win the three points of any match. Even if our performance is not good, we always fight to achieve our objectives and clinch the three points,” he pointed out.
He also stated: “We have to understand that we could improve, and this is what we will focus on. We will also focus on winning any match’s three points to make the fans and ourselves happy as this is so important for our team. We have to believe in our ability to win the upcoming match, and we must have confidence in the players’ quality skills.”
Pedro put an accent on the fact that this is not the time of division, but to be united. “I call upon the fans to support the team as they always do and not only doing so in victory times. After winning any match, everyone celebrates, but we also need them when we are unlucky and could not win like in the Fujairah match. In that match, we did not lose the match, although it was an important match for us.”
“On Saturday, we will play against Al Dhafra only within four days from our last match. We need their support, and I believe that they have confidence in our work as we are doing our best to make them happy and all members of this lofty club. This is what we must focus on and to be positive as well. We would play better, and this is what we all are focusing on achieving currently.”
Pedro described the Arabian Gulf League as a marathon. “It is a long competition where we are scheduled to play 26 games. Indeed, we are still at the beginning! Sometimes we need to have a strong start in the new season, and this was our goal. Unfortunately, it did not happen, and every week we change the lineup.”
“I think I am the right coach for the team, and we have a good squad who implements what they are meant to do and ready to fight to the end.”
He said that “we are still in the fourth round of the league and are about to play the matchweek 5, so we have to be together all the time, and this is what we should do. We are required to prepare the tea in the right manner and show to them that we trust their skills and potentials, and I think this is what we must focus on.”
He also said that he does not believe that this is the right time or place to discuss other matters “as our focus should be the team and our match against Al Dhafra and its three points.”
Pedro commented on the negative aspects and mistakes committed during the Al Fujairah match by stating that he is working on fixing them, as he said earlier.
He added: “If we can achieve all these points, we will be stronger, and for sure we will put firm hands on the three points while showing full respect to Al Dhafra team.”
He again hailed the guests by stating that the team is well-organized and investing in any mistake the players may commit. “Therefore, the Al Ain squad would be careful and well-prepared for such a scenario. We must have a high level of concentration and, most importantly, is to play in-depth and focusing on the actions of the match as of the kickoff whistle until the last minute of the match.”
Pedro stated that Ismael Ahmad, Mohammed Ahmad, and Rayan Yaslam would not play the matchweek 5 due to injury.
He wished Ismael Ahmad his best wishes of speed recovery who underwent surgery and called upon him to be stronger as he everybody knows him and that they all would be waiting for him to rejoin the squad.
Pedro concluded his statement that he would select the 100% ready players, and those who are not in form would not play the upcoming match. “We still have tomorrow to decide who is doing what.”
