Al Shabab coach looking for a win

Dubai: The Al Shabab coach will be looking for maximum points against a tough Al Nasr in the sixth week of the UAE Football League on Tuesday night.

Al Shabab, the defending champions, have seen their campaign falter time and again this season with some sloppy showings.

The most recent was a 1-1 away draw to bottom-placed Al Khaleej. That result gave the Khor Fakkan team their first point of the competition this season.

"We know we need to start winning matches that are within our reach," Al Shabab coach Toninho Cerezo told Gulf News.

"There are the tough teams and there are the not- so-tough teams. While we need to win against the big ones, we also need to ensure we do not make mistakes against the smaller sides," the Brazilian added.

After five matches, the defending champions lie in an unlikely sixth position with just seven points to their credit. They have won two, drawn one and lost the other two - against Al Ain and Sharjah.

"We are making the same mistakes over and over again and we need to rectify this situation as soon as possible," Cerezo said.

"We have to build our attacks from our own half and then gradually use the wings to float the ball so that [Zimbabwean striker] Mousa can have more chances of scoring."

The Brazilian is not too happy with the position he is currently in, but that does not keep him from aspiring towards better things.

"We have to start winning and get things in order by the end of the December so that we are in a position to defend our crown," Cerezo said. The weight of defending the crown is also proving to be heavy for the league champions.

"But this is something that we have to be reconciled with as everyone wants to beat us. Our game last week [versus Al Khaleej] was a good example. But we need to learn from our mistakes and give the best we can," the coach said.

Luckily, the club management has reposed their faith in the coach and his staff, at least till now.

"We are doing all the right things, but somehow we've not had the luck factor with us," Cerezo noted.

"Hopefully, we will get the three points against Al Nasr and things will be back in focus," he added.