Dubai: Al Shabab coach Fred Rutten is relishing the clash of Dutch minds as his club clashes against Al Jazira in tenth round action of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL), on December 3.

Rutten, who spent a major part of his playing and coaching career in the Netherlands, took over Al Shabab at the beginning of this season. His more experienced counterpart Henk ten Cate has had an illustrious career serving as assistant coach with Barcelona and Chelsea, among other top clubs.

But all that will mean very little as second-placed Al Jazira play the Al Mamzar side on Saturday. “Two Dutch coaches and both out to get three points from the game. Ten Cate likes to play football and Rutten too likes to play football. Both of us like an attacking game. There is very little we can do from outside. It is left up to the players on the pitch,” Rutten told media at the pre-match conference on Thursday.

“This will be a typical game that will be based on minor details. We need to focus and concentrate throughout the 90 minutes. We lost the match against Al Ain due to one minor mistake. My team always executes 99 per cent of my instructions. And then we have a team that never gives up till the end. I want to retain this spirit for a long time,” he added.

Al Jazira have been keeping pace with leaders Al Wasl. The Cheetahs are at the AGL summit with 22 points, while Al Jazira are two points behind, although with an extra match in hand against Al Ain. Al Shabab are placed in third with 18 points following a dropped chance of being in second after last week’s goalless draw against Hatta.

“Al Jazira is one of the top clubs in the UAE who have a definite possibility of fighting for the title. They have been scoring a lot of goals and they don’t concede too many. Such a team is difficult to handle,” Rutten admitted.

“But we are aware of their weaknesses and we will see how best we can exploit these and win all three points at home. Overall it will be a nice game for the fans,” he predicted.

FIXTURES

(December 3) 4.45: Al Shabab v Al Jazira; 8.00: Al Ahli v Al Wahda; 8.00: Emirates v Sharjah

(December 4) 4.45: Al Nasr v Hatta Club; 4.50: Bani Yas v Kalba; 8.00: Al Ain v Al Wasl; 8.00: Dibba v Al Dhafra.