ABU DHABI // Al Jazira and Al Wahda go into Sunday night’s Abu Dhabi derby desperately needing a win, albeit for different reasons.
For Eric Gerets, the Jazira coach, a victory would keep his side in the Arabian Gulf League title hunt behind Al Ain, who are seven points clear after a 2-1 win over Al Nasr on Saturday night.
But for Wahda and coach Sami Al Jaber, three points would help them get over their embarrassing away defeat to Fujairah last week.
Add to that the importance of local bragging rights for another season and there is plenty at stake.
“A derby match has always provided that little bit of special feeling for the players as well as the technical staff, so we trained with this game in mind,” Gerets said ahead of the short trip to Al Nahyan Stadium.
“But more importantly, we know that if we can win this game we still have a chance to stay in the title race.”
“We will try to win all the points that we have to win anyway to stay in the title hope, and of course hope Al Ain will drop some from their games. But what’s important is our next game against Wahda.”
Gerets has injury concerns regarding two key players, but Mirko Vucinic, the leading scorer in the league with 23 goals, and midfielder Abdulla Mousa are expected to be in the line-up after joining the training for two days.
“They were recovering from a few knocks and now seem to be all right to resume playing,” Gerets said.
“Khamis Ismail (the UAE international) has been out for a long time (after a ruptured thigh muscle against Dhafra on February 21), but I don’t want to rush him.
“He is hungry to return, but after consulting the medical staff, we have told him he needs more time. For me, his future is more important than playing him in one or two games.”
Jazira have done well to win their three games since a pair of 2-1 losses, a surprise defeat to Al Dhafra at home on February 21 and falling at Al Ain on March 8.
Gerets said he was not happy with his team’s performance against last-place Kalba despite a 3-0 home win last week.
“That was one of the worst games we played,” he said.
“We created fewer chances yet scored three unanswered goals, which is a positive we can take.
“This happens in football. You can’t play at the same level all through the season, and in a derby you never can get any easy points. So we have to fight hard and they (Wahda) would want to avenge their defeat in Fujairah.”
With one win and a draw in six games since taking charge of Wahda in early February, Al Jaber has a daunting task to get his struggling side back on the winning trail.
“I have told my players to forget the last game and to just go out there and enjoy the big occasion,” the former Saudi Arabia international said.
“Jazira are a good team, but we are not far behind them.
“We can match them in every line, and on our day we can achieve a good result.
“Hopefully it may be this game.”
apassela@thenational.ae
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