Al Ahli hope to push the reset button on a disappointing season as they start their President’s Cup campaign at home on Friday night against Kalba.
Winners of the league and Arabian Gulf Cup (AGC) double last season, Ahli have limped through the season, finishing seventh in the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) and failing to reach the knockout stages of the AGC.
The President’s Cup is an opportunity for coach Cosmin Olaroiu’s men to finish their campaign on a high by winning the only trophy that was missing from their collection last season.
They have reached the knockout stages of the Asian Champions League, as well, and they will face AGL champions Al Ain on May 20 and 27 for a place in the last eight.
Olaroiu said he told his players “our season began” after the final league match.
“We have an important President’s Cup coming up and then the two Asian Champions League matches,” he said. “So, potentially we are looking at playing six matches over the next 20 days, with every match being a final. If you lose, you go home.”
Olaroiu is not contemplating an early exit from the President’s Cup, but his half of the draw looks difficult.
If the Dubai club defeat Kalba, they likely will meet Al Jazira, who are playing the other relegated side, Ajman, in one of Friday’s late matches.
“Ajman may have been relegated, but they played a big match against Al Wasl a few days earlier,” Eric Gerets, the Jazira coach, said as he warned his side against taking their opponents lightly.
“They have a very good player from Morocco, Driss Fettouhi, and I admire him a lot.
“Most importantly, Ajman have nothing to lose, so they will be playing with a lot of freedom against us and plenty of enthusiasm. We are expected to win this match and a loss would be disastrous for us. So this is a very complicated game for us.
“Our goal at the beginning of the season was to win the league title, but we finished second.
“The season before, however, we had finished third, so there is evidence of improvement.
“Now our goal is to win the President’s Cup, and if we play at the same level we played against Al Wasl [winning 4-2], our chances will be great.”
The second quarter-final in the top half of the draw could have defending champions Al Ain and Al Wahda going head-to-head on May 23, provided they make it past their Division One opponents in the two early Friday matches.
Al Ain, the newly crowned league champions, meet Dibba Al Fujairah, the Division One champions, while Wahda will take on Dubai, who finished third in Division One and failed in their bid to win promotion back to the top flight.
“The President’s Cup is one of the most important competitions, so we have to make sure we don’t let our guard down,” said Sami Al Jaber, the Wahda coach.
“We have to stay focused and try to perform at the same level as we have done in recent times.”
