Abu Dhabi: Al Jazira coach Henk ten Cate was left fuming after his side was held to a goalless draw by bottom-placed Iranian side Tractorsazi Tabriz in the Group A fixture of the AFC Champions League at the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium on Monday.
More than the setback, Ten Cate was not happy with the way the television media grilled him over his tactics of fielding new set of players in every match.
A visibly upset Ten Cate said in his post-match press briefing: “They said I made different team every week because I want to leave the club. It’s absolutely not true. I have to work with the material I have available and this is what we have available. I’m really angry with this as I have given two-and-half years of my life for the club and will continue to do so till I’m there.”
Ten Cate has been missing key players on a consistent basics, be it with injuries or bookings and against Tractorsazi too their key Moroccan midfielder Mbark Boussoufa was out with bookings. In Boussoufa’s absence, the midfield couldn’t function like a well-lubricated machine and they lost the crucial opportunity to grab some vital points.
“It was disappointing for us, I thought we could take three points. We had too many players who were not in the game today and that’s why we didn’t win the game. Very frustrating,” said Ten Cate, adding: “On the other hand, given the circumstances where you see the players we had available, I think it is a good result. You cannot continuously make miracles. This is what we have and this is what we have to do it with. Today Boussoufa was not there and Salim Ali Al Hammadi was our central defender in the midfield. Do you think I like to do this? Of course not, but what can be done.”
The Dutchman’s worries has been doubled ahead of the return leg with three more players sidelined with bookings.
What will hurt the most will be the absence of striker Ali Mabkhout, who lost his cool and ended up arguing with the referee after the final whistle.
For that mindless act, Mabkhout was slapped with another yellow and his absence for the return has pushed Al Jazira further into troubled waters.
“I feel he [Mabkhout] feels bad about it as well. He is like a role model for young players and he should also act that way. Today it was absolutely not good. The game is finished and why should you take a yellow card, it was absolutely unnecessary especially in the situation we as a team are. I’m not happy with this at all,” said ten Cate without mincing words.
Apart from Mabkhout, Ahmad Al Attas and midfielder Mohammad Jamal also will be missing the tie on March 13. Al Jazira are currently tied with Qatar’s Al Gharafa on five points each and cannot afford any slip-up if they want to progress in the tournament.
“We still have a good chance of qualifying. Some players will be coming back but we will also be missing a few. So yes again a different team and next week a lot of players from the academy will be in the team. We will try hard to do well,” said ten Cate.
