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Ivankovic warns his players of Kalba threat

Al Wahda head coach Branko Ivankovic has warned his players ahead of their home clash with second-from-bottom Kalba, stating that "Kalba have nothing to lose." The Croatian manager told the media at his pre-match press conference whilst preparing for the Round 16 Etisalat Pro League tie; "The game will not be easy and we must play with all our strength and concentration in order to secure the three points. I expect a closed, defensive game from Kalba and we will have to work hard to create chances."

Ivankovic says his side is evolving day by day, particularly in terms of their tactics, and many of his players have been in fine form of late. However, some key players will be missing for the match, including Adil Abdulla and Mubarak Al Mansoori, with Mohamed Al Shehhi also a doubt due to knee pain after the game with Al Jazira. His fitness will be assessed ahead of the Kalba match to see if he is in a state to participate. Tawfeeq Al Hosani will be subject to a report to determine the extent of his injury and how long it will keep him out of action for. "It's sad for him to be missing out now, as he has been one of our best players in recent times," said Ivankovic.

Kalba's coach Ze Mario was in a positive mood at his pre-match press conference, declaring; "I'll take my side to Abu Dhabi looking to come back with three points. But if we get a draw, one point would also be a good result for us." The Brazilian manager regretfully admitted his side will miss some key players for the match, including Sadomba and former Al Wahda player Talal Abdullah through suspension. "We will miss Talal Abdullah from our back line, and Sadomba will also be a loss for us as he leads the attack." Kalba, who sit in a precarious position in the League with only 7 points, are fighting for their lives in the second half of the season. But Ze Mario feels that their fellow relegation battlers Dibba Al Fujairah and Al Shaab - also both on 7 points - will feel the pressure more this weekend due to their match against one another, described as a 'six-pointer.' "We will fight until the end of the game with Al Wahda to try and get a result," assured Ze Mario.