Esmail Mattar: We have to do our best

Dubai: UAE and Al Wahda ace, Esmail Mattar, said he had mixed feelings about the outcome of his team's match against Al Jazira on Monday night.

"I am happy because we renewed our hopes to stay in the First Division and play in the first Pro-League next season. But I also feel sad because the result will deprive Al Jazira from continuing to compete for the title," Mattar told Gulf News after the match.

"We had a series of misfortunes this season. Last season, the title slipped out of our hands in the last week of competition and we finished runners-up. This season, we are fighting to avoid relegation.

"We played a number of good matches, but didn't manage a favourable result. We have to do our best in the remaining matches to earn our place among the top clubs in the country," Mattar added.

Mattar, who has not scored a league goal for more than 100 days now, said he hoped Al Jazira would win the league title this season.