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Bahrain coach wants more from team

No coach is ever happy on the first day, not even Milan Macala, whose team, Bahrain, beat Iraq 3-1.

  • By Yasir Abbasher, Senior Reporter
  • Published: 23:35 January 5, 2009
  • Gulf News

Muscat: No coach is ever happy on the first day, not even Milan Macala, whose team, Bahrain, beat Iraq 3-1.

"We did not show our real capabilities and committed several mistakes." Macala told reporters after the match.

"We knew before the kick off that all matches will be difficult and we wanted to prepare for a long and strong competition. But their obligations with their clubs outside Bahrain did not allow us to have them for a long time. It was clear that some players have a physical problem in the last minutes and I have to make substitutions.

"I not happy with the performance but I am satisfied with the result. We have to work on our mistakes before our match against Kuwait on Wednesday."

Brazilian Jorvan Vieira, the Iraqi coach, did not come to the press conference and sent assistant Rahim Humaid, who said: "We lost the match but I believe it is expected from a team who lost four key players, two to red cards and two from injuries. We thank our players who continued to fight till the end.

"We are still in the competition because Oman and Kuwait have a single point each and we will face both. If we win both matches, we will enter the semifinal irrespective of other results."

Claude Le Roy, the Omani coach, admitted his team missed a number of opportunities. "Kuwait played well and we tried to change our style and line-up in the second half but things remained as before. We still have a chance and will do better in our remaining two matches."

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