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Al Jazira v Al Shaab Pre-Match Press Conferences

Al Jazira coach Luis Milla expressed his happiness at having a long period of preparation leading up to a game for the first time since taking the reigns at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. “This is the first occasion that a significant period of time has been made available for me to prepare my players for a game, and I am glad to finally have this chance,” the Spaniard said at his pre-match press conference. “Al Shaab are a good team and have started improving their results lately, and of course they know they need to win against us, which would mean they officially escape relegation,” Milla added. The coach confirmed that Juma Abdullah continues to miss out due to injury, whilst Khaled Sabeal’s situation remains unknown as the Club awaits a decision from the AFC regarding his red card in the last Champions League game. Khamis Esmail has returned after five days in Germany to assess his knee injury and will be available to play for the final three games of the season before undergoing surgery. “For the final games of the season we will stick together as a group, knowing that our target is to finish 3rd in the League and win the Etisalat Cup,” Milla said.

Al Shaab’s Marius Sumudica is prepared for a tough battle at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Thursday as he hopes to secure a win, and with it guarantee Etisalat Pro League football for another season. “I have great confidence in my players’ abilities to survive in the professional league. They need to put in a huge effort to this game as a win will make us safe, and although we will be missing Abdullah Saleh through suspension, and Al Jazira are a very strong team, my players will just focus on Dibba Al Fujairah and securing our future,” Sumudica said.