Are Al Jazira and embattled coach Eric Gerets locked in a fatal tailspin or simply suffering from a temporary blip?

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This is the question the club’s board must answer, Friday night’s 4-2 humbling at home to Al Shabab coming days after a statement denied rumours of the 60-year-old’s imminent dismissal.

No solution ever looked like being crafted to cure the travails of a team weakened by key suspensions, afflicted by the usual appalling defending and deflated by two defeats in their preceeding three Arabian Gulf league matches.

A stunning debut campaign for Shabab boss Caio Junior – a man who has first-hand experience of how ruthless the Jazira board can be – is now guaranteed to end with a top-three finish and AFC Champions League football. The same is secure for the Pride of Abu Dhabi, but the achievement feels hollow. 

Much like their season, the long-time title challengers started strongly before tailing off. Asian Cup top scorer Ali Mabkhout provided another moment of supreme skill, trapping a long Yaqoub Yousef ball with aplomb before firing high into the goal.

Defensive calamity then ensued, centre-back Saif Khalfan imploding. The 22-year-old first headed into his own goal, before the turnaround was complete when he lost Essa Obaid who nodded home deep into first-half injury time.

Shabab ripped their beaten opponents apart after the break, Dawood Ali surprising Ali Khaseif with a shot when a cross seemed certain.

A late flurry brought goals at both ends, substitute centre-back Musallem Fayez nodding in a Manuel Lanzini free-kick before Carlos Villanueva converted a penalty with relish. It meant little, the damage had already been done to Gerets.