Football: Cup done and dusted, focus now on the League: Olaroiu

Dubai - The League resumes after a four-week international break on Wednesday

Al Ahli coach Cosmin Olaroiu has urged his players to quickly snap out of the Arabian Gulf Cup hangover and recalibrate their thoughts on their Arabian Gulf League title defence, no matter however bleak it is.
The League resumes after a four-week international break on Wednesday evening and the Red Knights go into the 22nd round, fresh from laying their hands on a third Arabian Gulf Cup.
It is still fresh in the mind as it was only on Saturday night that the Al Quasis club ran the rule over Al Shabab at the Al Maktoum Stadium. But with Al Ahli set to face a difficult test at home to Al Wasl in the League on Thursday night, Olaroiu said that it was paramount his players forget the events of last weekend.
"After the Cup win, it should be like a new beginning," Olaroiu said at his pre-match press conference at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex on Tuesday evening. "Whenever we win a title or a cup, we start a new chapter. Our aim, our goal is to prepare them well and to make them understand that this is a fresh page, a new beginning. We have to come back to earth, be humble, and focus on the next task in front of us, which is the League. We have to compete till the end," added the Romanian.
The Red Knights are on a hot streak, so to speak, with five wins from their previous five matches in the League, which includes victories against Al Shabab and leaders Al Jazira.
Al Ahli are looking to close a six-point gap to Al Jazira but standing in their way are Al Wasl, who could throw a spanner in the works. The Cheetahs are nine points adrift of Al Jazira but just three behind Al Ahli.
So, one can expect no quarter will be given when they square off at the Rashid Stadium.
"In my opinion, Al Wasl have the best attackers and in Fabio De Lima, they have one who has scored more than 20 goals (21). They are well prepared physically and tactically and it will be a tough game. We still have some problems, some absences and we have to fill the gaps that we have. Three points will keep us in the competition but we have to go out and earn it. It won't be easy at all against a team like Al Wasl," he said.
"I hope and believe that my players have the mentality of the champions and not just relax. They have to fight for trophies and never be satisfied. We have to win more. These are the most important years for the players and this will benefit them," added Olaroiu.
Meanwhile, midfielder Khamis Ismail too echoed Olaroiu.
"Like the coach said, they have some good attackers and it won't be easy at all. We need to focus and win the game to stay in the competition," said the former Al Jazira playmaker.
james@khaleejtimes.com