Dubai: Shabab Ahli coach Jose Luis Sierra said his side’s next league game at home to Kalba on Thursday is crucial after starting the season with just one win in four.
The Chilean, who joined over the summer from Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad of Jeddah to replace Mahdi Ali, knows his job could already be on the line after defeats to Al Jazira, Sharjah and Al Ain were only punctuated in round two with a lone win over Ajman.
Newly promoted Kalba won’t necessarily be the reprieve ninth-placed Shabab need, as the minnows are flying high in fifth, with three wins in four, bouncing back from an opening defeat to Al Wahda, with victories over Emirates, Al Dhafra and Al Nasr.
“There is no guaranteed seat for the coach,” said Sierra. “We could talk for hours about the reasons for the defeats, but what is more important is that we beat Kalba. It’s a very important game because we need to win. Losing three of the first four make this game crucial.
“I am happy and proud of the players. They are the tools to help us win. This easiest thing would be to blame them for the defeats but I would not do that even if it costs me my job. I am the first and last responsible.”
Asked if the title was already out of their grasp, Sierra replied: “We have an opportunity to react and return. There are many rounds left, especially as the top teams haven’t played each other.
“It’s impossible for someone to win every game, teams will falter, but we need to start winning because draws and losses are unacceptable.”
Al Nasr’s Ivan Jovanovic, meanwhile, is in an even worse situation having opened with four defeats against Ajman, Sharjah, Al Ain and Kalba, to sit second from bottom. That’s despite the Blues having the most impressive off-season of any other UAE club by signing former Premier League stars Yohan Cabaye and Alvaro Negredo.
Jovanovic survived the sack after his side’s last defeat away to Kalba, but the club’s entire board resigned and were replaced after the game, with further change expected.
The Serbian said the nature of a coach’s job was transitory and that he was ready to accept any decision based on the result as a professional, able to deal with any situation.
“All the matches the team play in this current period are difficult,” he said. “We must fight to improve our image as the fans are expecting a lot.”
So far, from 14 league clubs after the first four league games of the season, only Kalba’s Jorvan Vieira has been sacked. He was replaced by Fabio Viviani after losing the first game of the season 6-2 away to Al Wahda.
The biggest game of the weekend sees unbeaten leaders Sharjah travel to third-place Al Jazira, while also unbeaten Al Ain, who are second, are away to Fujairah.
