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Fossati: My first game is a Cup Final

Jorge Fossati says that Friday’s Arabian Gulf Super Cup match will mark the first occasion in his lengthy career that his first game coaching a new team will be Cup Final, but the Uruguayan coach says he has full faith in his players to get off to a winning start. Speaking at the pre-match press conference at Al Jazira’s Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Thursday morning, the new Al Ain head coach commented on his side’s readiness for the opening match of the season. “The coaching staff and players are all ready for the big game, even though our preparation time since the end of Ramadan has not been very long,” he said. “It’s a big challenge because our first game is a final, and it’s a very important match as it is between the two biggest teams in the UAE.”

Fossati, who has a nearly-full squad to select from for tomorrow’s match, says there is not much to separate Al Ain and Al Ahli. “They’ve also had a short preparation time since the end of Ramadan, they didn’t play many pre-season friendly matches and they have not had long to get settled with their new coach,” Fossati observed. “In terms of my squad getting used to me as their new coach, there’s not a big difference between my coaching style and the previous one; just some minor tactical differences. It’s not a huge change for the players to adjust to,” he added.

Al Ain’s influential Romanian midfielder Mirel Radoi was also present at the pre-match press conference, and spoke of the players’ excitement ahead of the game. “For sure it’s a special game; it’s a one-off game and whoever wins this one match will get a Cup. The match is between two very tough and strong teams, and I hope many people will follow the game both in the stadium and watching on television,” the 32-year-old said.