Abu Dhabi: Embattled Malaysia coach Dollah Salleh says he faces “a very tough job” to counteract “the best team in Asia”, the UAE, in Thursday’s crucial 2018 World Cup qualifier at the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Salleh’s struggling side are bottom of the five-team Asian zone Group A following their two opening qualifiers at home in June — a 1-1 draw with East Timor and an ignominious 6-0 thrashing by Palestine.
It is understood that the former striker’s job is at threat if he suffers further losses to Saudi Arabia at home on September 8 and the UAE, the two rivals lying second and third on three points respectively.
But a bullish Salleh told media at the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium on Wednesday: “We have come here to get at least a point.”
The UAE finished third in January’s Asian Cup in Australia, but Salleh insist the Whites are now the continent’s finest national side.
“They are the best team in Asia,” he said. “It’s not easy for me [to play them]. It’s a very tough job.
“The most important thing is that we perform well and not make it easy for the UAE to beat us. The big problem is our strike force, and we also have a lot of injuries.”
He added that he was acutely aware of the UAE’s chief threats, particularly star playmaker Omar Abdul Rahman.
Salleh said: “He is one of the best players in Asia, but we are prepared to stop him.”
He went on to say that his preparations for the game, which kicks off at 7.15pm, have been hampered by the fact that the Malaysian Super League only finished on August 22.
Furthermore, champions Johor Darul Takzim and runners-up Pahang have been in AFC Cup quarter-final action since then.
Salleh said: “I believe the experience of these two clubs can help us a lot, but I’ve only had a few days with the players and that’s not good.”
One source of optimism for him, however, was the performance of his team in the 0-0 home friendly draw with Bangladesh on August 28.
Meanwhile, captain Safiq Rahim vowed that he and his teammates would “give full commitment and concentration” against the Whites.
The midfielder added: “The important thing is discipline in the game.”
Rahim, goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi and veteran striker Amri Yahyah are Malaysia’s key players, Zulhelmi Zainl of the country’s Astro television channel told Gulf News after the press conference.
He expects the beleaguered visitors to deploy “very defensive tactics” and line up in a 4-5-1 formation, with Yahyah the lone frontman ahead of a “compact midfield”.
The broadcaster says Malaysia have drafted in five new players for the encounter following their recent travails.
Zainl also believes the under-fire Salleh will see out his two-year contract, which finishes at the end of the year, unless he resigns.
