DUBAI // Edgardo Bauza says the long-term project with the UAE national team convinced him to accept the offer to become their new manager, although he did concede that qualifying for next year’s World Cup represents a significant challenge.
The former Argentina manager, who was dismissed last month following eight months in the role, was formally introduced to media at the UAE Football Association on Thursday night having signed a contract through to the 2019 Asian Cup, which takes place in the Emirates from January 5 to February 1. He replaces Mahdi Ali following the Emirati’s resignation on March 28.
Bauza, 59, is tasked with first helping the UAE reach next summer’s World Cup – the team sit fourth in Group B in the final stage of qualification – with success at the Gulf Cup of Nations later this year and the 2019 Asian Cup other primary objectives.
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The Argentine’s first competitive match in charge will be next month’s must-win World Cup qualifier against Thailand in Bangkok on June 13. From there, the UAE have two more qualifiers to rescue their bid to reach Russia: against Saudi Arabia, the group’s joint-leaders, in Abu Dhabi on August 31 and then Iraq in Tehran five days later.
“First of all, it is a personal challenge,” Bauza said. “We are all on the same page, the UAE FA president, the directors and I. We are not thinking only about the three games but also long-term.
“It is a long-term project – that is what I have in mind, as well. That’s my main goal. I want to start work as soon as possible and try and improve the team for the initial term of two years. But we are looking beyond as everyone has the same aim.”
The double defeat in qualifying in March to Japan and Australia, which prompted Mahdi Ali’s resignation, means the UAE’s hopes of making the World Cup are hanging by a thread. The team currently sit seven points off automatic qualification, while they also lie four points back from Australia in third, the position that guarantees a play-off spot.
“It is difficult, but mathematically, it is still possible,” Bauza said. “For sure, we will try and give it our best. We will try to win all our remaining three games. Of course, it is difficult because it just doesn’t depend on my team, it depends on other results. We can win the three matches, but then you have to look at other results.”
Bauza will seek to rebound from a chastening eight months with Argentina from August last year. He was dismissed on April 10 having guided the 2014 World Cup finalists to only three victories in eight matches, a run that dragged the side to fifth in the Conmebol section for the global finals, one place outside automatic qualification.
“That is passed and is history now,” said Bauza, who confirmed he had several other offers of employment. One is understood to have been the Ecuador national team. “It was a beautiful experience, but it was over. I had other five possibilities and chose this one because of the challenge.”
Bauza, a Copa Libertadores-winning manager with Ecuador's LDU Quito and Argentina's San Lorenzo, will watch Arabian Gulf League champions Al Jazira conclude the season against Al Dhafra on Friday, before flying back to Argentina. He will return to the UAE ahead of the President's Cup final on May 19.
“I had done some research about the team before coming here, but I now have some more knowledge after watching three games from the qualifying campaign,” Bauza said. “From this, I will start working and try and improve the situation.”
The UAE squad will gather on May 30, then travel to Doha to play Qatar in a friendly on June 6. They leave for Bangkok the following day.
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