Jose Peseiro's exit from Al Wahda cannot be because of results alone, but whatever the reason for dismissing their Portuguese manager, it feels as though Wahda have taken two steps back rather than a step forward.
His sacking comes at a crucial time with Wahda – only four points off the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) lead – set to play Baniyas on Thursday night, followed by their Asian Champions League (ACL) play-off against Al Sadd of Qatar on Tuesday.
Majed Salem, the club’s Under 21 coach, was named caretaker for the league game at home, with Sami Al Jaber, the former director of football at Al Arabi in Qatar, expected to take over ahead of their ACL play-off. He will have to start from scratch with no time to work with his team before facing Al Sadd.
Statistically, Peseiro has done nothing wrong. Wahda made excellent progress since he took charge 10 games into the 2013/14 season. They finished runners-up last season in the league and were third at the time of his sacking on Monday.
He was an amicable man and had admirable faith in his players. He defended them wholeheartedly every time he faced the media, saying he wanted no change in the squad in the transfer window, particularly the foreign contingent.
Peseiro made it clear that he wanted to work with his existing squad and develop them instead of looking for new players. And he was justified in terms of the team’s progress.
The fact he blocked a Wahda move for Australian midfielder Tim Cahill is more likely to be to blame for his dismissal than the 2-2 draw against Emirates last Sunday.
Al Ahli out of contention
Cosmin Olariou was looking for an explanation after champions Al Ahli lost to Al Shabab in the Mamzar derby on Sunday.
“There is no balance in the team,” he said. “All the decisions went against us. We were nervous. We did not show enough focus.”
The Romanian knows that result effectively ended his team’s chances of retaining the league title as they trail leaders Al Jazira by 10 points.
The signings of Oussama Assaidi, Everton Ribeiro and Kwon Kyung-won should have been made much earlier in the mid-season transfer window to provide more time for Olaroiu to work with his new players.
However, the club management sent their coach on a one-month loan to be in charge of Saudi Arabia at the Asian Cup in Australia, and that was not in the best interest of the team.
The Romanian had his assistants working with the players during his absence, but it certainly was not a good move for a club with ambitions of winning the domestic league.
Big chance for Al Ain
Al Ain have an opportunity to take a firm hold of the AGL title race in the next month. Level on points at the top with Jazira, but with a game in hand, they play Ajman on Friday and meet Fujairah twice in their next three games.
They should expect to take nine points, and move at least three points clear at the top, ahead of the visit of Jazira on March 8.
It is a game that has title-decider written all over it, especially with Ahli struggling and Wahda and Shabab dropping off the pace.
Kwon added to Al Ahli foreign quartet
Al Ahli have made a second change to their foreign quartet by replacing Luis Jimenez, the Chilean who plays on a Palestine passport, with South Korean midfielder Kwon Kyung-won.
Comelli bracing for Al Jazira attack
Coach Paulo Comelli says Emirates face the best attacking side in the league when they host Al Jazira.
“There is quality in every line at Jazira, and our defence will have a very tough task in keeping out Mirko Vucinic and Ali Mabkhout,” he said.
Vucinic and Mabkhout, who won the Golden Boot at the Gulf Cup of Nations and the Asian Cup, have 29 league goals between them.
Garcia focused on opponents
Baniyas coach Luis Garcia says the crisis at Al Wahda will have little impact on their play on Thursday.
“That’s an internal issue and we are not interested in that matter, but we will go there with the intention of winning the three points,” he said.
“Although Wahda are ahead of us on points, I see them as an equal opponent.”
Al Shabab coach building on momentum
After beating Al Ahli on Sunday, Al Shabab coach Caio Junior hopes to keep up the momentum when his side meet Al Nasr.
“That result has given a lot of confidence to my players and I don’t see why we can’t win the next game against Nasr,” he said.
apassela@thenational.ae
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MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Marseille 0
Atletico Madrid 3
Greizmann (21', 49'), Gabi (89')
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The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Specs
Engine: 3.0L twin-turbo V6
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 405hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 562Nm at 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.2L/100km
Price: From Dh292,845 (Reserve); from Dh320,145 (Presidential)
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
RESULTS
6.30pm UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) US$100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Final Song, Christophe Soumillon (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (Turf) 1,000m
Winner Almanaara, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
7.40pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner Grand Argentier, Brett Doyle, Doug Watson.
8.15pm Meydan Challenge Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Major Partnership, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
Winner Universal Order, Richard Mullen, David Simcock.
The%20specs
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Results
6.30pm: Madjani Stakes Group 2 (PA) Dh97,500 (Dirt) 1,900m, Winner: RB Frynchh Dude, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Mnasek, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Grand Dubai, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 2,200m, Winner: Meqdam, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Thegreatcollection, Pat Cosgrave, Doug Watson.
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,900m, Winner: Sanad Libya, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Madkhal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
KINGDOM%20OF%20THE%20PLANET%20OF%20THE%20APES
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The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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