Al Shabab's Renato gets over penalty miss

Dubai: Al Shabab's Brazilian Carlos Renato de Abreu said he had gotten over his penalty miss in the season-opening Super Cup game.

His side were trailing 0-1 to arch-rivals Al Ahli in the Super Cup on September 14 when Renato stepped up to take the penalty that coach Toninho Cerezo wanted skipper and fellow countryman Marcos Assuncao to take.

Renato said: "That moment is way past me. And all involved including the coach, my teammates, club authorities and the fans have supported me to keep that moment in the past."

The Brazilian sent his kick way off the target and Al Ahli were crowned Super Cup champions.

"All players go through such moments at some stage in their lives. I used to take penalty kicks for Flamengo regularly and I never missed.

"I have never missed a single penalty in the three years I have spent as a professional in the UAE. These things can happen to any player," he said.

"It is difficult to lose due to the missed kick, but I really don't blame myself for the loss.

"It simply happens in football. I am a professional and I am glad everyone has come forward and been so supportive."

The Brazilian was released by Al Nasr Club at the end of last season and Cerezo signed him up for the defending league champions.

Renato said his versatility that allows him to play in various positions was the reason he was signed.

Various positions

He said: "I can play anywhere, be it as a striker or a midfielder. I know many in this region have this mentality that scoring goals means success as a player.

"But to me this is not the case. I think setting up goals for someone else to score so that the team can win is equally important. I fall in this second category," Renato observed.

The Brazilian has scored once this season but that came in their 4-2 defeat at Sharjah in the second week of the UAE Football League.

Renato said: "If I am in a position to score, then I will. If not, I will simply pass the ball on to a teammate who is in a better position.

"I don't care what anyone thinks about my goal-scoring.

I work hard both on and off the field and I am here for the team, and not for myself."

With three weeks gone of the new league campaign, the Brazilian has slowly but surely been fitting into his new team.

He said he getting to know his teammates better and that would help him play better.

He said: "This has helped me improve step by step and that is what I always aspire every time I have gone to a new club.

"I never give up easily. This is one quality that I cherish. I look at every opportunity as a challenge and I am sure Al Shabab will be no different."