Reghecampf warns Mamic’s taunt will only motivate them
AL WAHDA COACH RESPONDS AS AL AIN BOSS SAYS THEY CAN’T BE CAUGHT
l Ain coach Zoran Mamic’s dig, that his side’s rivals must ‘double their efforts’ to stop the Boss, will only serve to inspire secondplaced Al Wahda according to Clarets coach Laurentiu Reghecampf.
Following Al Ain’s 7-0 home thrashing of Ajman on Saturday that saw the Boss maintain a two-point lead with seven games to go, Mamic said: “There is no team that can put pressure on us and those who want to catch up with us will have to double their efforts if they want to win the league.”
Speaking ahead of Al Wahda’s trip to Hatta today, Reghecampf replied: “I have no comment on what he said and from the beginning of the season we have said our response would be on the pitch.
“We respect all clubs and never speak about being the best. I hope my players have heard what Zoran said and that it makes them more enthusiastic for the coming period. If Zoran is happy, that’s up to him.”
Al Wahda beat Al Wasl 4-3 at home on Friday in a battle for second to bounce back from an embarrassing 1-1 away draw to bottom-of-theleague Al Dhafra the week before. Meanwhile, Al Ain are unbeaten in the league and have only dropped points once this year.
“We have to win to maintain our current position to be close to the leaders,” said Reghecampf. “I have confidence in all the players and we have a good psychological and technical position.
“We know Hatta well, they are a team that always fights and will work to win at home, so we have to focus and work hard from beginning to end, and not make mistakes.
“Any game in the coming period is a final, there is no easy game, but if we are the best we will win.”
Al Wasl take on Al Jazira
Elsewhere, today, thirdplaced Al Wasl are at home to struggling defending champions Al Jazira who hadn’t won in four matches before Saturday’s resurgent 3-1 home win over Al Dhafra.
Al Wasl coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena will be looking to bounce back after his side’s 4-3 defeat away to Al Wahda on Friday, but the Argentine admitted it won’t be easy.
“We face one of the biggest clubs in the league, who had a positive appearance in the Club World Cup (where they narrowly lost 2-1 to eventual champions Real Madrid in December’s semi-final in Abu Dhabi). It will definitely be a difficult game like all games played by my team, but we hope to provide a good level.
“Our ambition is to always be at the top of the league and we look forward to winning the three points.”
League leaders Al Ain are at home to Emirates tomorrow after Dibba travel to Al Dhafra. And on Friday, Ajman host Al Nasr and Sharjah visit Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club.
Al Ain’s Omar Abdul Rahman and Al Jazira’s Ali Mabkhout continue to be suspended and unavailable for selection by their clubs for breaking a curfew while on national team duty the night before the Gulf Cup final defeat to Oman in Kuwait last month. An appeal against their four-game bans was rejected on Sunday.