Shabab Ahli boss braced for backlash

Change in coach may galvanise Al Wasl, Arruabarrena says

Shabab Ahli coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena is wary of a resurgence from his former side Al Wasl ahead of today’s Arabian Gulf League fixture after they sacked their coach Gustavo Quinteros over the weekend.

Quinteros replaced Arruabarrena at Al Wasl over the summer but was dismissed following Al Wasl’s 3-1 derby defeat at home to Al Nasr last Friday, after picking up just two wins from the first six games of the season. Arruabarrena, meanwhile, left Qatar’s Al Rayyan after picking up just four wins from the first eight games before returning to Dubai to take charge of Shabab Ahli last week, replacing Jose Luis Sierra, who had lost three of his first five.

The Argentine former Boca Juniors boss won his first league game in charge of Shabab Ahli away to Dibba on Friday 1-0 but he isn’t now relishing a reunion in his second game at home from 7.30pm today against Al Wasl, with whom he finished second and third in the league over the past two seasons before losing both cup finals last term.

“The results of Al Wasl do not negate the strength of the team and the excellence of its players,” said Arruabarrena. “I expect a change in the coach to positively affect the team as this usually happens in football.

“Al Wasl includes players of experience and foreigners of a high level of technical competence. I know them well.”