Abu Dhabi: After giving mighty Real Madrid a scare in the semis, Al Jazira coach Henk Ten Cate is confident that his team can put up a strong performance against Mexican outfit Pachuca in the third-place encounter on Saturday.
The team will do everything in their powers to clinch the third place so that they have a memory to cherish for a lifetime, asserted Ten Cate on the eve of the encounter.
“We will do everything possible to get the third place medal because this is something what my players can look forward and feel proud for the rest of their life,” said the Dutchman, whose team went down fighting to Real Madrid in a contest which most felt would be a one-sided affair.
“It was our third match against Real and it was only their first match but we still put up an incredible effort despite being exhausted towards the end. We can be proud of what we did,” said Ten Cate adding that the contest against Pachuca will be another brial by fire for his players.
“Pachuca is a very strong team and I think it is going to be an interesting match. We have to find a way to face them. I have good confidence in my players.”
Ten Cate will be missing the services of the injured key goalkeeper Ali Khaseif, who won the hearts of everyone including the opponents with his exceptional show against Real. In Khaseif’s absence, Khalid Senaani will step up.
Senaani was also roped in for the duties against Real after Khaseif’s injury in the second half. It was a clean sheet and a one-goal lead for Al Jazira until then. Real then took advantage of the chance and scored twice to turn the tide in their favour.
Ten Cate revealed that he woke up next day with mixed emotions and was feeling a bit dejected contemplating what it could have been, had the second goal from his team not been disallowed for offside.
“After the match, there was a mental relief that there was nothing to regret but the next day I started to feel disappointed,” he said.
“I know it sounds ridiculous but I was disappointed because we had a chance to win 2-0.
“You know it is all those questions that come to mind. But now looking back so far in the tournament, we have made a remarkable achievement.”
Senaani, who will be in focus again in the crucial outing, speaking about the task at hand, said: “As the coach said, we were feeling a bit disappointed but now we are trying to look forward. We have to put behind what happened as it is the past and look forward. The match against Real was a pressure match but we fought hard. Now we have to look at how well we can perform against Pachuca.”