Henk ten Cate says Al Jazira must use Thursday’s Arabian Gulf League clash against Sharjah to build momentum for their Fifa Club World Cup opener next week.
The UAE champions, currently sixth in the standings, kick off the December 6-16 event against New Zealand's Auckland City a week on Wednesday at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain.
The winner of that play-off then enter the Club World Cup proper, and face newly crowned Asian champions Urawa Red Diamonds in the quarter-finals on December 9. Whoever emerges victorious from that match take on Real Madrid in the semi-finals four days later.
Jazira have not been allowed to cast their minds that far forward, though, especially with this week’s league encounter with Sharjah first up. The Abu Dhabi club are playing catch-up having not begun their title defence well, when they failed to win four consecutive matches after opening the 2017/18 season with a victory.
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However, Jazira have rebounded to win two of their past four, while also eking out draws against Shabab Al Ahli Dubai and Al Ain - two of their perceived title rivals. It means that, after nine rounds, Jazira trail leaders Al Wasl by eight points.
Yet with two wins in the Arabian Gulf Cup also, Jazira are unbeaten in eight games. Add another triumph to that run on Thursday, and Ten Cate believes his side will be set up well for Oceania champions Auckland on December 6.
“The match against Sharjah is very, very important because the win will boost the players,” the Dutchman said. “It will give them extra energy and extra confidence. Of course, that will be great.
"Hopefully, we will succeed in this even though it will be a difficult match because Sharjah’s results have picked up recently.
“But only after that match can we begin to think about the Club World Cup. My focus is on this only: getting a good result against Sharjah because I still believe in our chances in the league.
“Despite all the problems we have had, and all the injuries and suspensions to important players, I can grab hold of the last eight games. And also, we have had good results against the big teams. But even still, the preparations towards the Club World Cup have not been optimal.”
The Club World Cup is a seven-team tournament that pits against one another the champions of the various confederations, together with a representative from the host country. Alongside Jazira, Auckland, Urawa and Madrid, Mexico’s Pachuca and Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca have already booked their spots.
Brazilian club Gremio and Argentina’s Lanus are vying to secure the final place at the tournament and play the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. Gremio are 1-0 up from the first leg.
The Club World Cup is taking place in the UAE for the third time and first since 2010. Spain’s Barcelona won the event in 2009, with Italian side Inter Milan lifting the title the following year.
Madrid are the reigning defending champions and will next month be considered favourtites to win the crown for the third time.
