Coach happy with Al Wasl preparation

Dubai - The Cheetahs travelled to Malaga in Spain on Sunday to commence the second stage of their preparations for the forthcoming Arabian Gulf League.

Al Wasl coach Gabriel Calderon insists he is more than satisfied with his players' energetic endeavours during their Dutch training camp, despite only picking up one victory from four pre-season friendlies over the course of their 12-day stay.
The Cheetahs travelled to Malaga in Spain on Sunday to commence the second stage of their preparations for the forthcoming Arabian Gulf League (AGL) season before returning to the UAE on Saturday, August 15.
Wasl will play as many as six preparatory matches on Spanish soil as they ramp up their build-up having lost three of their initial quartet in the Netherlands.
Calderon's men were narrowly defeated by AZ Alkmaar (1-0), Achilles '29 (2-1) and Saudi Arabia's Al Shabab (2-1) while in Holland, where their solitary success came against another Saudi club - Al Taawon - with a 2-1 scoreline in their favour.
However, the club's Argentinian boss isn't remotely perturbed by his side's initial results at this early stage of the campaign, insisting such outings are more about fitness than form.
"The first phase of the camp was useful in all aspects and the results weren't the focus of our attention from the very beginning," the former Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia manager, 55, said.
"We've been keen to play a number of friendlies and involve all of the players in them. 
"We've fielded a different side in each half of the games to give opportunities to all of the players to participate and to avoid fatigue at the beginning of the season.
"We've achieved something important and positive, with the smooth integration of the new players with the old ones, and I've now a greater understanding of the options available to me in each, specific position.
"I'm very happy with my players and the extent of their commitment. I've great confidence in all of them and their ability to implement - and develop - the tactical system I want for the team."
Calderon added that the second stage of their preparations in Malaga would revolve around "raising the side's technical level to the best possible" and progressively settling upon a starting XI - and matchday squad overall - for the big kick-off.
First team manager Hamid Yusuf shared similar sentiments to Calderon, adding: "The first phase of the camp was a success and I salute all of the players for their commitment and the great effort that went into the last period.
"The results of their work began to show clearly with the technical progress of the team as a whole.
"Our focus during our stay in the Netherlands was to intensify the friendly matches until we'd raised the technical level of all of the players and we'll follow the same plan in the second phase of the training camp in Spain."
alex@khaleejtimes.com