Abu Dhabi // Abel Braga, the Al Jazira coach, insisted they will be better prepared for the Asian Champions League (ACL) next year after his side failed to go beyond the group stage for the third time in succession.
Jazira surrendered a two goal half-time lead and lost 3-2 to Al Hilal at the Mohammed bin Zayed stadium on Wednesday night, leaving the Pro League leaders rock bottom of Group A with just a single point from their four games.
Braga, who had not played a full strength side as the club's main focus continues to be on domestic competitions, said he had been content with how the side he had put out had fared.
"I was pleased with this team's performance despite the defeat," he said.
"We were successful in the first half but couldn't keep that pace for all 90 minutes. Hilal scored twice from dead-ball situations. One was a free kick and then they has a penalty, so I don't think we did much wrong in this game.
"I am also happy some of the players got some experience in playing in the ACL. They put a lot of pressure on Hilal, who found it very hard to win against us."
Braga said the club's main goal was to complete the second half of the domestic double by adding the Pro League to their President's Cup triumph before concentrating on the continental championship next season. This was illustrated by the manager resting four key players after a run of four matches in two weeks.
"As a coach, I must look at the welfare of my players," Braga said. "I can't expose them to injuries. They had to play four important matches and they are tired and exhausted. For instance, Subait Khater has been playing non stop for the last six months. He has been playing both for the national team and the club. He deserves a break.
"I have four injured players and others are tired. I need to give them a break as we have an important league game coming up.
"Our priority was to win the domestic league and the cup, and we will concentrate more on the ACL next year. We will plan this from the beginning of the next season."
Gabriel Calderon, the Hilal coach, was full of praise for his team's comeback which increased their tally to nine points. They joined Sepahan at the top of the group after the Iranian team suffered their first defeat, beaten 1-0 by Al Gharafa.
"It would have been very unfair for my players had we not won this game," Calderon. "We not only managed to push Jazira back to submission but came back from two goals down to win 3-2, which showed the true character of my players.
"We were the better team and could have won by five goals. Instead we made a couple of mistakes to concede two goals within a minute. But then my players came back very strongly to stamp their authority in the match. And for that, I can't blame them for the mistakes.
"I told them during the break that they were the better team. Jazira put everything in the first half and they got exhausted in the second half."
