Al Jazira insist Eric Gerets remains in charge, for now, despite reports of sacking

Al Jazira are keeping a tight lid on what seems like an imminent departure of coach Eric Gerets, whom the Belgian media claimed, has already been dismissed.

Eric Gerets is still Al Jazira manager despite reports claiming he had already been sacked. Christopher Pike / The National

ABU DHABI// Al Jazira are keeping a tight lid on what seems like an imminent departure of their coach Eric Gerets, whom the Belgian media claimed, has already been dismissed.

The Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws reported Gerets was relieved of his duties the day after Jazira's early exit from the President's Cup on Thursday.

However, club spokesman Abulrahman Al Khudairi insisted the Belgian was still in charge until a high-level meeting between the club’s technical committee and the management, which is scheduled for next week.

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Al Khudairi also dismissed rumours that the Abu Dhabi club were in contact with former coach Abel Braga, who led Jazira to their only league title in 2011, over a return.

“Whatever news that is circulating is pure speculation,” he said. “Gerets is still the coach but what will happen after the meeting I cannot say. And it is not true that we are in talks with Abel Braga (the former Jazira coach).”

Gerets arrived at the Mohammed bin Zayed stadium last summer on a two-year contract from the Qatari club Lekhwiya.

Despite guiding Jazira to a second-place finish in the Arabian Gulf League — the club’s highest since the 2011 title triumph — Gerets is under pressure following their early exit in the President’s Cup and failure to reach the Asian Champions League group stages.

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