Dubai: Al Wasl may have won the last three league matches, but coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena is refusing to get carried away ahead of Thursday’s game at home to Sharjah from 8pm.
“I’ve spent many years in football and I know that we can’t be happy or relaxed or think that we are doing everything right,” said the Argentine former Boca Juniors boss, whose side are now fifth after three wins in four, three points off leaders Al Shabab.
“If we think like that we will be in real trouble. Now if you look at our results and performances you can say it is good, but I know that we have much more to give.”
The Cheetahs started the season with a defeat to Al Jazira, but have since overturned Al Dhafra, Al Nasr and Al Wahda in an impressive run of form. However, seventh-placed Sharjah, who have two wins in four, will be no walkover, he said, despite beating them in the Arabian Gulf Cup last month.
“It’s going to be a very different match to the cup game,” he added. “I know the Sharjah coach [Giorgos Donis] very well…” – they were together as a coach and player at Greek side AEK Athens in 2008 before Donis effectively called time on Arruabarrena’s playing career — “He’s very good and I expect a tough match.
“As for us we need to confirm the good things we did in the Al Wahda match and correct the mistakes we committed. Most importantly we need to show character on the field and get three points.
“Maybe for the press or the fans, there are some matches that are more important than others but we don’t think that way as a team. We prepare for each match in the same way with hard work knowing our goals with respect for the opponent. Our opponent for this match is really good and they are getting better, the same applies for us, that’s why I expect a good game.”
Four teams have the potential to go top — or at least share the lead — this weekend.
Al Wasl can go joint top with Al Shabab if they can beat Sharjah, while second-placed Al Jazira, who host seventh-placed Bani Yas on Thursday, can pull into a solo lead.
However, leaders Al Shabab will have the chance to go back ahead outright if they can continue their 100 per cent start to the season with an unlikely victory at home to defending champions and third-placed Al Ahli — who have also yet to drop points — on Friday.
Otherwise victory for Al Ahli would see them go joint top with a game in hand, the exact same scenario that would befall fourth-placed Al Ain if they beat Dibba away on Friday. Al Ain have also had a perfect start and boast a game in hand.
The best of the other games this weekend sees eighth-placed Al Wahda host ninth-placed Al Nasr on Friday. Both sides are struggling and considering changing their coaches after poor starts to the season. Al Nasr’s case is more pertinent however, following three straight defeats.
Elsewhere, bottom-placed Al Dhafra are at home to 10th placed Kalba on Friday and sixth-placed Hatta get the chance to continue their rise at home to second-from-bottom Emirates on Friday.
