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Zenga: We must transfer high morale from AFC Champions League qualification into Al Shabab game

Al Nasr’s Italian head coach Walter Zenga has stressed the importance of capitalising on the positivity in the squad since qualifying for the group stages of the AFC Champions League earlier in the week. Speaking at a pre-match press conference at the Al Maktoum Stadium ahead of hosting Al Shabab in Round 16, Zenga said; “After qualifying for the group stages of the 2013 AFC Champions League, we must take advantage of the high spirits and morale amongst the team and transfer it to our League form, converting positive results. Seeing as Al Shabab also qualified through their play-off game, I expect it to be a very fiercely contested match between the two sides.”

Speaking of team selection for Friday’s match, Zenga added; “Mohamed Ali will miss the game through injury, and we will wait until the last minute to decide whether Masoud Hassan is fit to play.” Zenga also revealed that four players from the club’s Academy have been promoted to First Team status after demonstrating encouraging signs of ability, and with more experience from training with the First Team they will hope to be given an opportunity to play in future.

Opposing coach Marcos Paqueta used his pre-match press conference to point out the proximity of the teams to one another in the League, with Al Nasr sitting only two points ahead of his Al Shabab side, with the game offering an important opportunity for Al Shabab to move above the hosts with a victory. Paqueta also anticipates an exciting and hotly contested game between the sides as they both secured AFC Champions League qualification this week.

Paqueta was also pleased to report the positive physical state of his Al Shabab squad following their tough trip to Iran. “The physical condition of the players is good. The five days between our AFC Champions League game and the match against Al Nasr offers enough time for the players to recover and not be subjected to stress injuries from tiredness.”