Al Jazira will address defence issues: Gerets

Lanzini is one among the galaxy of stars that ‘The Spiders’ recruited in the summer and the fearsome frontline has been top notch.

Abu Dhabi — It was ironic in a way that Al Jazira coach Eric Gerets arrived for his customary pre-match presser with his prized signing — attacking midfielder Manuel Lanzini — in tow.

Lanzini is one among the galaxy of stars that ‘The Spiders’ recruited in the summer and the fearsome frontline has been top notch.

There isn’t a problem there. But the problem lay elsewhere, in their backline and that is turning out to be their Achilles heel. And it has been for a while now. The title contenders have never been goal-shy but a shaky defence and the bad habit of conceding goals at the death has plagued them for many a season.

And it that which Gerets would have to address when they welcome Emirates to the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium for their third game of the Arabian Gulf League on Thursday night.

For all the firepower that they have, Al Jazira have been dented by a fragile backline and it could prove costly in the end. The ‘Pride of Abu Dhabi’ have scored five goals in two games but they have also leaked four. That second game proved costly as it denied them a win.

Gerets revealed that there would be a strong “reaction” this malaise. “We should have won the game against Al Fujairah but we easily gave away two points. We were frustrated by what happened but we now have a new game in front of us. We will show a strong reaction and try to prove to everyone that we are as strong in defence, as we are in attack,” said Gerets.

james@khaleejtimes.com