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Defeat is wake-up call, says Olaroiu

“What can I say about this kind of game?” Ahli’s Romanian coach, 45, said afterwards in his post-match press conference. “We were playing well and didn’t give Shabab any chances to come near to our goal for 55 minutes. We had scored two goals and created a few more opportunities as well.

Dubai: Cosmin Olaroiu says Al Ahli’s catastrophic collapse to arch rivals Al Shabab is a “wake-up call” to his struggling squad, with lingering fitness doubts hanging over “a few” of his playing personnel. The Red Knights took 47 minutes to establish a commanding 2-0 cushion over their arch rivals across the Al Mamzar/Al Qusais divide.

However, some dire defending saw that buffer swiftly overturned in less than half that time (23 minutes) as Shabab ran riot in a chaotic second-half showing from the hosts’ perspective.

“What can I say about this kind of game?” Ahli’s Romanian coach, 45, said afterwards in his post-match press conference. “We were playing well and didn’t give Shabab any chances to come near to our goal for 55 minutes. We had scored two goals and created a few more opportunities as well.

“We then conceded three goals in 12 minutes and, after that, everything was finished. We lost our concentration and confidence and made a lot of mistakes. It’s a difficult loss, especially with the way in which we conceded the goals. We were taught a lesson tonight (Sunday) and it’s good that we learnt something from this game because it’s the beginning of the season and we have to wake up.

“Attention is a big part of the game and when we don’t have our focus – like when we conceded those goals — we pay a big price.

“We thought the game was finished at 2-0 and you saw what happens when you start to think like that. We now have to take away the conclusions of this match and come back the way we have done in these situations before by playing the way that we can.”

When asked whether he was concerned about the fitness levels of his players given their perceived stamina shortage in the second period, Olaroiu replied: “For a few players, yes.” He also blamed “tension” for their shortcomings at Shabab’s set-pieces as they’d spent a lot of time in training defending dead-ball situations knowing only too well their opponents were very good at them.

He chose to defend the displays of goalkeeper Ahmed ‘Dida’ Mahmoud and Basheer Saeed, while forwards Ismaeel Al Hammadi and Ahmed Khalil still seemingly “have a lot more to give” in spite of their improved performances.

Ahli simply don’t look as dangerous though without club captain Grafite – who was named among the substitutes — and a crocked Ciel in their starting XI, with the transfer window deadline set to slam shut next Thursday (October 2^nd). “We have time to solve all of these problems,” Olaroiu added. “These things don’t solely depend on us as a coaching staff however as some players also need to learn from their performances today.

“Of course, from our side as a management team, we’ll do our best to solve these problems and try to make sure that we don’t keep making the same mistakes.”

We can have a big season: Ciao Dubai: Ciao Junior talked up his Al Shabab side’s title chances in this Arabian Gulf League season after they downed reigning champions Al Ahli 4-2 with a sterling second-half comeback. Shabab looked destined for defeat in the Al Qusais derby at Rashid Stadium on Sunday evening as they trailed 2-0 early in the second half with little sign of recovery. However, the visitors then exploited the home team’s aerial deficiencies to the full to net thrice in 12 crazy minutes before Brazilian debutant Henrique Luvannor wrapped up this whirlwind win with his second goal and Shabab’s fourth overall. “I want to challenge for it, but it’s very difficult because you have Al Ahli, Al Ain, Al Jazira, Al Wahda and Sharjah,” the former Jazira coach replied when asked whether Shabab can be considered genuine championship contenders on the evidence of one, albeit outstanding, result. “There are many other teams in contention, but I want to be as well. I’m feeling very positive because I feel like we’re one team with energy and power right now and I very much like to feel like we’re a unified side in this situation. I believe we can have a big season.” Shabab looked disjointed offensively until the start of the second half, when Caio Junior deployed Luvannor in a more central position up front — a tactical switch that was ultimately to prove the game changer. “My team performed well in the second half. To score four goals at Al Ahli is fantastic,” he explained. “I’m very happy because we executed our set-pieces very well and I changed Henrique Luvannor’s position.”