DUBAI // Hector Cuper, the Al Wasl manager, vowed to lead the club out of its malaise, beginning with Friday's Arabian Gulf League encounter with Ajman.
The Argentine has endured a troublesome start to his Wasl reign, guiding his side to three victories in 11 top-flight matches since replacing Laurent Banide in November.
Struggles on the pitch have been mirrored by instability off it, including when the Wasl board resigned en masse, citing a failure to deliver results worthy of a club of its stature. Wasl currently sit 10th in the standings.
Cuper, a vastly experienced coach having managed with distinction clubs in Spain’s Primera Liga and Italy’s Serie A, acknowledges the predicament facing him, although he remains certain he can steer the club toward success. Cuper is little more than two months into an 18-month contract at the Zabeel Stadium, and he remodelled his squad significantly in the winter transfer window. Of the four foreign players to begin the season in Wasl’s first team, only Mariano Donda was retained. Edson Puch, Emmanuel Culio and Ricardo Oliveira are the new expatriates.
However, the transition has been slow, prompting Cuper last week to publicly vent his frustrations with recent performances, which was interpreted as the surfacing of self-doubt regarding his Wasl tenure.
Yesterday, before Wasl’s home game with Ajman, he tried to clarify his comments.
“I love the work that I am doing, and I am confident I can change the image of the team,” Cuper said. “If I thought I could not change it, then I am not worthy of this position.
“I did not threaten to leave at all. We have to take responsibility and we must continue to improve the team’s form. I’m happy to work at this club and everyone here is co-operating with us greatly.”
Cuper will be keen to repay that faith with a much-needed victory against an Ajman side buoyed by last week’s surprise win against title-chasing Al Jazira.
The three points lifted the reigning League Cup holders to 12th in the table, and another triumph would close the gap on Wasl to five points. Wasl, though, have shown signs of improvement in their past two matches, defeating Al Shaab 1-0 before ruing the concession of a late penalty that gifted Al Shabab a 1-0 victory.
“During the last two matches, the team has appeared more balanced than in the past,” Cuper said. “This is something positive. We have improved defensively, and this is what we had sought most during this recent period.
“Ajman have talented and distinguished foreign players, and their coach [Abdulwahab Abdulqadir] is very good tactically, so we have to remain focused on the pitch.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
OTHER GAMES
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Sharjah v Dubai
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Paulo Bonamigo, the Sharjah coach, says his side must not take for granted victory against Dubai club on Friday, despite the visitors being rooted to the bottom of the league.
Sharjah needed two injury-time goals to seal the win when the two teams met in October, and Bonamigo warned his players against any complacency this evening.
“It’s important to get three points, but it will not be easy,” he said. “If we underestimate our rival, it will lead us to the same scenario as the first-round match. We’ve spent a good week in training and the players are ready to deliver what is expected from them.”
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Al Shabab v Al Shaab
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The Al Shabab club board urged its side to build on last week's restorative victory against Al Wasl when they host relegation-threatened Al Shaab.
Shabab came into Round 18 having returned to second place in the standings, but realise they must register another win to hang onto the coattails of Al Ahli, the league leaders.
“We’re entering a delicate stage in the league, since all games are difficult for every team,” said Abdullah Al Suwaidi, a director at Shabab. “Shaab want to enhance their chances of escaping relegation, while we are determined to maintain our position in the title race.”
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