ABU DHABI // Al Jazira manager Henk ten Cate has urged his players to respond to their 6-0 thrashing from city rivals Al Wahda in last week's President's Cup quarter finals.
The Dutchman wants his side to “react positively” to restore their battered pride when they meet Al Ahli in the semi-final of the Arabian Gulf Cup on Monday night at the Mohammed bin Zayed stadium.
“The reaction of the team was good after the heavy defeat to Wahda but that reaction must be reflected on the pitch when we meet Ahli,” Ten Cate said.
“We had a very bad day, everybody, including me (against Wahda). But nobody can take away what we did the whole year. We were the best team with the most points if you look in one calendar year.
“We were overpowered by Wahda. This is football and this happens. This one game cannot take away one year’s work from these guys. It’s an enormous job they have done.”
Jazira were 13th in the Arabian Gulf League when Ten Cate was appointed in January last year. They went on to finish seventh and rounded off the season by winning the President’s Cup in a penalty shoot-out against Al Ain.
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Wind the clock forward 12 months and Jazira are on top of the league table with just one defeat.
They have a perfect home record in the AGL, winning all six matches, and Ten Cate believes they hold an advantage when they meet Ahli having beaten them 2-0 on their home turf in the league last month.
“So far nobody took points from us here and we want to keep it that way,” he said. “Ahli are of course a fantastic team under a very experienced coach. They will know what they must do and we know what we need to do.
“It’s going to be an interesting and good game. My players want to show something and get a result in this game.”
Ten Cate refused to accept Moroccan playmaker Mbarak Boussoufa and Khalfan Mubarak’s absence as a cause for their poor showing against Wahda when asked if he had missed them last week.
“Khalfan will take at least two more weeks to fully recover from his injury and Boussoufa is away on national duty in the African Cup of Nations. But we will not take their absence as an excuse,” he said.
“We played a very bad game that night. We lost the battle but we can’t lose the war.”
Ten Cate can call on the services of new signing Leonardo after the Brazilian completed his move from Asian Champions League winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors over the weekend.
“If he’s registered and all the formalities are completed, then there might be a chance for him to play,” the Dutchman said.
Ahli manager Cosmin Olaroiu is facing a selection dilemma due to suspensions and injuries.
Ahli goalkeeper Majed Naser has been handed a five-match ban and fined Dh200,000 after his red card for headbutting an Al Ain player in the 1-1 draw in their rescheduled league game on New Year’s Eve.
Joining Naser on the sidelines are Khamis Ismail and Salmin Khamis, both serving one-match bans for three yellow cards.
Ahli will also be without Korean midfielder Kwon Kyung-won, who has moved to Chinese club Tainjin Quanjian. The Saudi Arabian international Salman Al Faraj is linked to fill the void left by Kwon.
In the other semi-final at 8pm, Al Shabab meet Al Wasl at the Maktoum bin Rashid stadium.
Meanwhile, Sharjah have signed Japan international Chikashi Masuda as replacement for the injured Korean midfielder Son Jin-hyung.
They are also set to lose Adrian Mierzejewski, the former Polish international midfielder who is linked with a move to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal.
apassela@thenational.ae
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