The UAE squad fly to Malaysia on Thursday to begin their external camp ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifier in Thailand on June 13. We look at what lies in new manager Edgardo Bauza’s in-tray.
Getting to know his players
Until last week, Bauza knew little about the team other than a few UAE matches he watched on video and the reams of statistical information provided by the Football Association. He attended the President’s Cup final on May 19 — six Al Wahda players made the provisional squad — while he also watched on video the Asian Champions League last-16 clashes involving Al Ain and Al Ahli. Training began last week with four players, then rose to 15 from Saturday, with the Al Ain and Ahli contingent joining on Wednesday. It has been an unusual start, but with the full squad finally at his disposal, Bauza needs to get to know his players’ strengths and weaknesses, and crucially their personalities, fast.
Convincing the players of his ability
Bauza arrived in the UAE following a difficult eight months with the Argentina national team. He won three from eight matches, a run that dragged the 2014 World Cup finalists to outside the automatic qualification spots for Russia 2018. Admittedly, there were mitigating factors involving troubles at federation level, but Bauza could still not extract the most from a team containing Lionel Messi, Paulo Dybala and Angel Di Maria. However, his club record is stellar having twice led clubs to the Copa Libertadores crown. The UAE players will be more familiar with his recent failings, though, and have spent the past four years — at least — listening to Mahdi Ali. Bauza must quickly prove he is the man to take them forward.
Instilling belief for final qualification push
Both Bauza and his management team have cited the need to raise morale within the UAE ranks. The side suffered a hugely dispiriting double blow last time out in March, when they lost 2-0 to Japan at home and then away to Australia by the same scoreline five days later. The twin defeats prompted Mahdi Ali’s resignation and left the UAE fourth in Group B, one place and four points off Australia in the play-off spot, and seven points off automatic qualification. With three matches remaining, hopes of making only the country’s second World Cup appearance hang by a thread. Yet it is still doable. Bauza needs to convince his players that Russia 2018 remains a realistic possibility.
Finding a formation that best suits
One of the greatest criticisms of Mahdi Ali’s tenure was the Emirati’s commitment to 4-4-2. The UAE rarely deviated from that system and it was easy to see why: Ali Mabkhout and Ahmed Khalil represent their two most talented strikers. Yet it became prosaic and predictable, and with Omar Abdulrahman given licence to roam behind them, often left the midfield vulnerable. Bauza, though, preferred 4-2-3-1 with Argentina, a system many UAE clubs employ, while initial signs suggest he will now adopt a 4-4-1-1 with Abdulrahman given the freedom behind Mabkhout in attack. Khalil is expected to drop to the bench, which seems right given his limited playing time at Ahli, while Abdulrahman has shone recently for Al Ain as a ‘false nine’.
Freshening up the first XI
Much like the reliance on 4-4-2, the UAE’s starting line-up has comprised largely the same players throughout qualification. Typically, only injury or suspension caused Mahdi Ali to look outside his trusted XI, despite repeated calls for fresh blood. Bauza comes into the set-up with a different outlook, and the hope is that the new manager selects players on form rather than reputation. Granted, he cannot make too many changes given the proximity of the Thailand match, but Mohammed Fawzi and Mahmoud Khamis are leading contenders at full-back, while winger Khalfan Mubarak, pictured left, comes off an impressive season for UAE champions Al Jazira. Also, Al Ain midfielder Ahmed Barman should continue in Majed Hassan’s absence.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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