Dubai Club coach sets fresh target

Dubai : Dubai Club coach Ayman Al Rammadi came face to face with reality following his side's second straight loss, but that only gave him more resolve to set a fresh target for this year's newcomers.

"We have to work hard and manage to get 14 to 15 points by the end of the first round of the league," Al Rammadi said after his team's 0-2 loss to Al Shabab late on Friday.

Dubai Club, who along with Ittihad Kalba got promoted to the UAE Football League (UFL) this season, gave a good account of themselves in the first round last week despite going down 3-4 against Al Ain.

Expectations

"Maybe people had too many expectations from us after we had managed three goals in a match," Al Rammadi said.

But that flair was sadly missing on Friday as Al Shabab took early control and neutralised operations upfront led by their foreign duo of Michael Ndri and Rachid Tiberkanin.

"I think we made far too many mistakes and that is the reason we were punished. Our level of play was not up the mark and we were a far cry from what we were against Al Ain in the first round," Al Rammadi said. However, with the league taking a two-week break the coach sees some hope. "We need to review things a bit. All is not lost for us."