Dubai: New Al Wasl coach Gabriel Calderon is hoping The Cheetahs can benefit from a “change in spirit” heading into his first test away to Arabian Gulf League leaders Al Wahda on Saturday.

The Argentinian tactician replaced Jorginho as coach this week after the Brazilian managed just one win in the first six games of the season.

Al Wasl are currently 10th in the 14-team league with just five points from five matches but despite being firm underdogs for the new manager’s first game, Calderon expressed the hope that his players would spring a surprise.

“Everybody knows the situation, but the spirit in training is good and we go into the Al Wahda game looking to take something,” he said. “Sometimes, a change in coach can change the spirit of the players and it is possible to do something even though we are not the favourites.

“Al Wahda know the show very well, they’ve been working with the same coach all year and they know how to win matches, which is why they are top of the league. But we will try our best to take something from this game.

“Three days is not long enough to change things physically but with new spirit and tactics we can give something different and in one or two months I’m sure the team will look completely different.”

Calderon is Al Wasl’s 10th manager in four years and Jorginho was only given six games to prove himself. Asked if he needed longer to turn things around, Calderon replied: “Of course I need time to work, but sometimes with the change in spirit and mentality you can get good results quickly.

“My target is to build a good team for good results and I shook hands on the confidence of the club, my job is to return that confidence with the level of the team. I don’t know what the result will be tomorrow, but I’m sure in the long term we will have very good results.”

Asked how his previous experience in the GCC would help, having managing six clubs and national teams in the region, including Abu Dhabi-side Bani Yas, Calderon added: “After 10 years in the region everyone knows my results, I know the mentality of the players very well and a good relationship is important for good results.”

Meanwhile, Portuguese midfielder Hugo Viana’s transfer from Al Ahli has stalled because his paperwork wasn’t completed before the transfer deadline. The UAE FA is applying to Fifa to temporarily re-open the transfer window; in the meantime Al Wasl are playing with just three foreigners.