Abu Dhabi: Al Jazira’s Moroccan midfielder Mbark Boussoufa felt that the team “dearly wanted” to win third place at the Fifa Club World Cup but there was just no gas left in the tank.
The Abu Dhabi side were beaten 4-1 by Pachuca in the UAE capital on Saturday night.
“We were too tired … the intensity in these games are very high and four matches in 10 days is absolutely too much,” said Boussoufa after four absorbing contests in 10 days.
“My muscles from waist to thigh — I don’t know what it is, cramp or what — but it is dangerous also to play so many matches. Luckily there are not too many injuries to the team.”
Boussoufa felt that Al Jazira could have done better to reduce the margin of loss.
“I think we were not doing any better and we got punished for our mistakes,” he said.
“It is too bad we couldn’t come back right after we made it 1-1. We conceded another goal and then it was always going to be difficult. In the end, the tiredness and we gave away the penalty. It’s too bad but overall the players did a good job. I’m very proud of them.”
The Moroccan felt that the experience would do a world of good for the youngsters in the team.
“Everything was positive for us in the tournament except that last 30 minutes,” he added. “It is important because of the experience. Lot of players got to be in this level which is huge. They can take this experience in the backpack and take it for future.”
Boussoufa also hailed coach Henk Ten Cate for his role along with the support staff.
“The coach has done a very good job. To come as an inexperienced team and to do well in a competition like this is fantastic,” he said. “The coach and the support staff have been amazing.”
The Al Jazira coach too echoed the same view as Boussoufa saying the boys were running on reserves after their absorbing contest against Real Madrid. “The tank was empty. I’m a little disappointed with the game,” he said. “I am not looking for excuses. The players were very tired. We missed some crucial players and Pachuca was way better.
“I’m proud of what my boys did. Before the tournament if anyone would have said we will be playing for the third and fourth place then probably I would have started laughing but it was a reality. They did their upmost despite being very tired. We also missed some key players.”
Pachuca coach Diego Alonso speaking about his team’s showing said: “We are happy to be third and be amongst the three top clubs in the world. It is better for the club’s history. We did better and did a lot of conscious work for this tournament. We did a good match against Gremio despite losing to them. My players are always ready to compete whatever the challenge is and that’s good for me as a manager.”
