Al Nasr have moved to silence a bizarre rumour in the French media that former Lille manager Herve Renard is set to replace Ivan Jovanovic as head coach.
The former Ivory Coast national team boss was dismissed by the Ligue 1 strugglers last month and was reported by Le 10 Sport yesterday to be holding talks with the Blue Wave, who have been riding high under Serb Jovanovic since he took charge in June 2013.
The 53-year-old led Nasr to a treble of Gulf Club Champions Cup, President’s Cup and Arabian Gulf Cup success last season, while the team sit third in the Arabian Gulf League, three points behind second-placed Al Ahli and seven adrift of leaders Al Ain.
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“Al Nasr Club denies news issued in some social networking sites about the club negotiating with French coach Herve Renard or any another coach,” a club statement issued on Friday read.
“The club were surprised by these rumors on social networking sites and some sports sites that referred to a contract being discussed between Al Nasr and a new coach at this important time of the season.
“The club urges everyone to investigate the credibility of the news and take the correct sources and not be deceived by these
rumors that aim to reduce the value of stability and achievements Ivan Jovanovic has achieved with the club in recent periods.”
Jovanovic himself was only focused on Saturday’s game with struggling Al Shaab at Rashid Al-Maktoum Stadium today when speaking at a pre-game press conference on Thursday.
“Always when we meet a team struggling for survival we must have respect for the opponent when searching for the three points,” said Jovanovic,
“Always we hear that the game is simple, but this is a mistake.
“It is a very important game to us and we are preparing well in order to collect the three points in the game.
Emirati forward Salem Saleh said he and his team-mates are focused on the three points.
“The coach asks us in all games specific instructions and everyone seeks to comply with what the coach says in order to collect the three points.”