Al Wahda-Al Jazira set for Capital derby clash

Abu Dhabi - The Clarets coach Javier Aguirre is set to try out youngsters during the match

Arabian Gulf Cup reigning champions Al Wahda will open their title defence against Al Jazira on Saturday night. Both Al Wahda coach Javier Aguirre and Al Jazira counterpart Henk ten Cate are looking to bag three points and have set the Cup as their key target.
Aguirre is banking on the 'good tools' to see the team through at the Mohammad bin Zayed Stadium. "We are the champions and want to open with three points," he said at a Press conference on Thursday evening.
He said the pre-season preparatory camp in Barcelona was a good one. "My boys are in good shape and this gives me confidence. We have good tools to fight. We have strong players for the championship."
"We want to win the Cup again," he pointed out as one of the targets for the year.
However, he said that few key players are away on national duty and so is new boy Balazs Dszudszak. "Dszudszak is away with Hungary national team camp."
The Clarets coach is set to try out youngsters during the match.
The Mexican said it will be a tough Capital derby. "It is against Al Jazira and it won't be an easy one."
Arabian Gulf League top scorer and foreign player of the year Sebastian Tagliabue said that he is all ready for the new season.
"The camp in Barcelona was a good one. More importantly, we returned on time. We need such a gap to acclimatise to the climate here. I remember, we once came back from an overseas camp just four days before the season and it was difficult to adjust," he told Khaleej Times.
The striker said that matches against Al Jazira are always tough ones. "There will always be a result in our matches - a win or a loss."
On Dszudszak, he said: "He is a good and a smart player. He is an important member in the midfield."
On his targets for the season, the Argentine said: "I want the team to win this Cup and top the League." And on his goal scoring record, he said: "Yes, I will try my best."
Meanwhile, Henk ten Cate expressed his satisfaction with the preparations for the new season.
The Dutchman said that despite missing out on few players to national duty, he is optimistic about a positive result on Saturday night.
"We are ready for the match. I am happy with the results during the camps in the Netherlands, Germany and here."
On his new players, he said: "I am satisfied with the performance of Mbark Boussoufa, Salem Abdullah, Humaid Ahmed and Jefferson Farfan, who is also considered a new boy as he missed most of last season due to injury. Farfan is now all set for the new season," he said at a Press conference.
The coach said that Al Jazira aspire to compete for all the titles this season.
"We are looking forward to compete in the right earnest for the Arabian Gulf Cup title. I am optimistic about our chances to earn full points on Saturday," he added.
Saturday's match (8.30 pm)
Al Wahda v Al Jazira
Mohammad bin Zayed Stadium