Dubai: Al Shabab's Brazilian coach Toninho Cerezo is convinced the hard work his players underwent during Ramadan will pay just rewards as his team prepare for Al Arabi, the Kuwait-based side today.
After starting their pre-season at the end of July, Al Shabab have gone on a rather hectic training schedule over the past two months without a break.
Cerezo believes this hard work will be rewarded when Al Shabab take on the visiting Kuwaitis in their GCC Champions League opener today.
"We are ready for [today]," Cerezo beamed after a training session on Sunday, despite it being the first day of Eid.
"I know it is a time to celebrate with the family for everyone, but the players will get their time to celebrate after we start on a winning note," Cerezo said.
And it is precisely due to this reason that the Brazilian is hoping his team will start on the right note against their opponents from Kuwait.
"I know we are playing against a team that defends well and they are tactically very sound. I am aware of the threat ahead as they will not be here for a draw& they will come to win all three points from us," he said.
It may be recalled that Al Shabab failed to defend their league title last season but they were the only team from the UAE that won two of their matches in the AFC Champions League last year.
As a result, Cerezo sees no need for his players to go out and be dominated by the visiting tea.
"It's our first game and we realise the need to be crafty and shrewd so that we can start on a winning note. We need to play [intelligently] and more importantly, we need to play the way we want to," Cerezo insisted.
Cerezo admitted that the early season jitters were bound to be there, especially among his younger players.
"But we have been speaking with them and giving them the right sort of boost to stay focused," he said.
The Brazilian will be relying heavily on the freshness of Chilean Carlos Villaneuva and the incisiveness of a new Brazilian striker in the form of Pedrao.
"Given the fact that most of my players are young, we may start at a disadvantage. But I also know that these players have shown us the hunger that they are prepared for the season ahead," Cerezo stated.
