Arruabarrena hopes to have last laugh
DUBAI — No matter what the result, Al Wasl coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena is not one to smile. The Al Wasl coach always has a game face on and despite three wins from four, the Argentine isn’t getting carried away just yet.
Those three victories have come against tough opposition in the Arabian Gulf League, namely Al Dhafrah, Al Nasr and Al Wahda, but Arruabarrena is well aware it is still a long road up ahead.
“Maybe you will see me smiling at the end of the season,” Arruabarrena said at a pre-match press briefing at the Zabeel Stadium on Tuesday evening.
“If we looked at our results at the moment, we can say it’s good. Our performance might be also good but I know we can do much better. I have spent many years in football as a player and as a coach and I know that we can’t be content or be relaxed or think we are doing everything right. If we think that way, we will be in real trouble. I am always talking about that with my players and that’s why I am always serious,” he added.
The Cheetahs come up against another strong test in Al Sharjah on Thursday night in the fifth round of the League and Arruabarrena said that nothing much should be read into their win against the same opponents in the Arabian Gulf Cup.
Al Wasl had beaten Al Sharjah by a solitary goal in their Group A opener in September.
“It is going to be very different match than our first match in the Arabian Gulf Cup. I know the Sharjah coach and he is a very good coach. And I expect tough match. As for us, we need to confirm the good things we did against Al Wahda but also correct the mistakes that we committed in that game. Most importantly, we need to show our character on the pitch to get the three points,” he said.
And Arruabarrena expected a tough and good match at the Zabeel Stadium on Thursday night. Al Sharjah are coached by Giorgos Donis, who formerly was at the helm of Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal.
“Maybe for the press or the fans, there are matches more important than others. But we don’t think that way as a team. We prepare for each match in the same way — with hard work, knowing our goals, and respect the opponents. Our opponents in this match are good and they are getting better. But the same thing goes for our team as well. That’s why I expect it to be a good match on Thursday,” Arruabarrena said.
Meanwhile, midfielder Humaid Abbas, who joined from Dubai rivals Al Ahli this season, said that he has been able to adapt well with his new club. “As new players with Al Wasl, we have been able to adapt quickly,” he said.
james@khaleejtimes.com