Riyadh: Saudi Arabia coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro has appealed to fans and media to get behind the Green Falcons ahead of their tricky Gulf Cup opener with Qatar at the King Fahd International Stadium on Thursday (8pm UAE).
Saudi supporters are notoriously impatient with their national team, perhaps understandably given their below-par record in the tournament. The Greens have only won the Gulf Cup three times in 20 appearances, despite a regional record four World Cup appearances and three Asian Cup wins.
But, add to that the expectation as hosts having won the tournament the last time it was staged in Riyadh in 2002, plus the fact they were knocked out in the group stages at the last Gulf Cup in Bahrain in 2013, and the pressure mounts for the Spanish former Real Madrid boss.
Since Frank Rijkaard’s sacking after the last Gulf Cup, Caro may have steered the Saudis back on course — lifting them up from their record low position in the Fifa world rankings (126th) and qualifying them for the 2015 Asian Cup — but there’s real fear this could all be in vain if they don’t get off to a good start on Thursday.
“We are well aware of the importance of the Gulf Cup,” he said. “At the same time we know the difficulties we face and we feel responsibility. We have great confidence in the work that we have done over the past period, but we stress there are difficulties.
“I expect it to be a tough match against Qatar, but I stress that our knowledge of that difficulty will not affect our enthusiasm for the game.
“Success depends of the efforts of everyone,” he added. “Not just the players and the coach, but the Saudi public.
“I am trying to achieve results for the team, but we just need the media and public to unite to assist and motivate the players. I don’t have a problem whether I continue with the team or not, I just want everyone to support the players.”
Asked if he feared for his job if the team couldn’t meet the expectations of the fans, Caro replied: “I’m only thinking about the first game, not the rest of the group stage, the future is in the hands of God. I just want to concentrate on my work and my responsibilities in the game against Qatar.”
