Sport | Football
Rival coaches play mindgames ahead of final
UAE coach Bruno Metsu and Oman's coach Milan Macala try to convince all that the other team had an edge in today's final of the Gulf Cup football championship.
- By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:36 May 3, 2009
- Image Credit: Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News
- UAE coach Bruno Metsu (left) with Milan Macala, his counterpart in Oman, during a Press conference.
Abu Dhabi: It was pre-dominantly a mindgames session at the press conference as UAE coach Bruno Metsu and Oman's coach Milan Macala tried to convince all that the other team had an edge in today's final of the Gulf Cup football championship.
"The UAE team is better prepared than mine. Since most of my team play in leagues in Qatar and Kuwait, I could assemble all of them only on January 11," said Macala, though his team finished as the only unbeaten side in this eight-team competition.
Metsu paid back the compliments: "The Zayed Sports City Stadium turf is more conducive to the style of play of the Omanis. The UAE team has lost the three previous games there," he said.
Macala felt the fans would play a big role. "Our fans are all back in Oman and we do feel their support even if they are not present. If they do get in, the 5,000 Omani supporters against the 55,000 will be no match."
The two coaches were unanimous in their feeling and agreed that pre-tournament talk that Group A was easier than Group B was disproved.
"I agree with Macala that this was an equally tough group and with both in the final, we have proved that the our group was tougher."
However, on a more serious note, Metsu felt the Omanis will be a tough side as they are out to put the record straight after their loss in the previous final to the hosts.
Commenting on what tactics the two coaches would use, Macala said there was not much scope for this.
"You must remember that these two teams played in the same group both in the Asian Cup qualifiers as well as this event. The UAE and Oman are also neighbours, so the teams know each other very well and don't expect any surprises."
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