Abu Dhabi: The President’s Cup final today between Al Wahda and Al Nasr is a clash between equals and both teams have a 50-50 chance to clinch the trophy, Javier Aguirre feels.

The action starts at Zayed Sports City from 6.15pm onwards.

“Al Nasr is a strong team as us, so I expect a tough game. It’s a final and nobody remembers the second place. We have one chance and we are ready,” said Al Wahda coach Aguirre, whose team played Al Nasr twice in the Arabian Gulf League and won at home 5-1 and lost 3-0 away.

“We are in the same level. There are no favourites, both teams are very similar. We finished with a three-point difference in the league so there is not much to choose,” said Aguirre, who added his side has not played at Zayed Sports City.

No excuses

“It is strange because we never played in this stadium and it is my first time but it is a final and there are no excuses not to give a good game. It is going to be a very exciting but a tough game,” added Aguirre, who will be missing the services of Chilean star Jeorge Valdivia and Sultan Al Ghafri. Valdivia is out with a thigh muscle spasm while Sultan Al Ghafri is out suspended.

Ace Wahda striker Sebastian Tagliabué accepted that the absence of Valdivia is a blow but said the team have players in their ranks who can fill in.

“Without Valdivia the match is going to be different and I always say he is in a different level than us. He is in the level of what Lionel Messi is for Barcelona, for example. We still have three to four players like Esmail Matar, who can play that role. Maybe not in the same way as Valdivia but we can manage,” said Tagliabue, who added that President’s Cup success would be his biggest achievement ahead of individual feats.

“I have been the top scorer for the club three times and if we can win this, I will put it at the top. For winning this, I’m ready to part with all my top scoring achievements. If my goals can help, it will be much better. I dream to score a hat-trick, but even if we win by an own goal of Al Nasr I will still be happy,” revealed the Argentinian, adding the title would be a fitting reward for all the effort they put in year long.

Al Nasr coach Dan Petrescu chose to keep his cards close to his chest before the crucial tie. Though he said there are “small problems” with some players, he didn’t give out details.

“I haven’t decided on the line-up. We have small problems, but I’m not going to tell them,” said a curt Petrescu, also acknowledging it was a very important match for him, the club and the players.

“All these cup finals are nice and very important matches for any team to be in, and the most important is the result. I’m happy my team is in the final, but will be more happy if we take the cup. To participate is not enough. We are playing against a good team, a good coach and good players,” revealed Petrescu, who also asserted that anything can happen in a club final and the way to approach the game will be the key.

“In a cup final, everything is possible. It can be decided in 90 minutes and also in a penalty shoot-out. Wahda have quality in every line-up and if they are not, how can they beat Al Jazira 6-0 (in the Cup quarter-final) and Al Rayyan (of Qatar) 5-0 (in the Asian Champions League). Normally in the cup finals, small details make a big difference,” said Petrescu.