Sami Al Jaber has insisted he will relish the pressure of his first match in charge of Al Wahda being a do-or-die AFC Champions League qualifier against Al Sadd, stating he lives for such huge matches.
The 42-year-old will man the Al Nahyan Stadium dugout for the first time on Tuesday night after last week’s shock dismissal of Jose Peseiro, a spot in the continent’s premier club competition up for grabs.
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High stakes are not alien after gaining legendary status as a striker during a glorious playing career spent mostly with Al Hilal and Saudi Arabia. Al Jaber has had only three days to work with his new squad, however, and faces opponents who currently top the Qatar Stars League.
“Al Wahda deserves to be among the best clubs,” he said yesterday at his first press conference since joining. “We will face a very strong opponent in Al Sadd, who have quality players and a technically-sound coach.
“[The pressure] is normal, I have to win every game. It is really difficult to attend the first game as one of the biggest matches in the Champions League qualifying phase.
“We are ready for it. We live in the action and under pressure, those are good things.
“To start against a big team like Al Sadd, in my opinion, is even better.”
Wahda’s prospects have been boosted by injury problems for Al Ahli old boy Grafite, who is a major doubt. Arabian Gulf League leaders Al Jazira face a similarly tough task to proceed, enduring a trip to ice-cold Uzbekistan to play Bunyodkor.
The Pride of Abu Dhabi come into the one-off decider in excellent form, deadly strikers Ali Mabkhout and Mirko Vucinic helping them to a four-match winning run.