Every competition presents different challenges, and our goal is to win and advance
We make no excuses; focus and discipline are essential to success in cup competitions
Al Ain head coach Vladimir Ivić has stressed that the upcoming UAE President’s Cup clash against Shabab Al Ahli presents a different challenge from the two sides’ recent league encounter, emphasising the importance of learning from mistakes, correcting them and preparing thoroughly to secure victory and continue the team’s title defence.
“We are facing the same opponents for the second time in five days, but every competition has its own demands and challenges,” Ivić said. “We know the mistakes we made in the league match and have already started working to correct them and learn from them. Our focus is now entirely on the upcoming match, which we approach with the clear objective of winning and advancing to the next round.”
He added: “Cup matches leave no room for recovery from defeat. They demand concentration and discipline throughout the game, as small details can make the difference. We must avoid mistakes and make the most of our opportunities to achieve our objective.”
Asked whether he had been thinking about the cup tie during the previous league encounter, Ivić explained: “I approach every match separately. Our full attention was on the league game at the time. Now our focus has shifted entirely to the cup, where we aim to win and continue our title defence.
Addressing the demanding fixture schedule, the Serbian coach said: “We make no excuses. Every team faces similar challenges, and it is our responsibility to manage the schedule and prepare the squad in the best possible way for each competition.
On playing at the opposition’s home ground, Ivić concluded: “We respect the competition regulations. Although I believe playing matches at neutral venues could be a suitable option for everyone, our responsibility is to adapt to the existing format and focus on delivering the required performance on the pitch.”
