Eriksson influence can help Al Nasr grow, insists coach Walter Zenga

The Al Nasr coach insists he remains relaxed about the arrival of his former Serie A manager in the Pro League.

Al Nasr head coach Walter Zenga.

DUBAI // Walter Zenga, the Al Nasr coach, has reiterated his support for Sven-Goran Eriksson, the club's new technical adviser.

The Swede was last week introduced at Al Maktoum Stadium in an 18-month consultancy role, which includes overseeing the development of the youth team through to the first team, as well as forming an integral component in identifying transfer targets.

Predictably, there have been suggestions Eriksson's presence at Nasr would only increase pressure on Zenga, who has attracted criticism from some sections of the club's support despite leading his side to top-three finishes in the past two Pro League seasons.

However, having played under Eriksson in Italy's Serie A during the mid-1990s, Zenga remains relaxed about the freshly renewed relationship.

"Sven was my coach in Sampdoria for two years and, as I've said many times before, he was the coach who gave me the chance to become a coach," Zenga said.

"Because, in the second year that I was under his guidance I tore my cruciate ligament and was out for six months and, from that point of view - from the outside - you can understand better the choices of the coach, the situations the coach faces, how he adjusts the team and so on.

"So I wish Sven all the best for his job here in Nasr and I hope his contribution is going to be important to help the club grow and develop."

On Saturday night Eriksson attended his first match as technical adviser, watching Nasr's 1-0 victory at Al Wasl.

The result kept the Dubai club fifth in the table, yet garnered greater significance as Nasr cut the gap to second-placed Al Jazira to three points.

Follow us

and John McAuley