O'Leary upbeat after Al Ahli win

Dubai: A couple of matches into the Etisalat Pro League and Al Ahli coach David O'Leary is looking at the "roller-coaster" ride ahead of him with his new club.

"I think we have beaten a good side. We took the chances that came our way and that is the difference between this match and the first one [against Al Dhafrah]," O'Leary told media after his team's crushing 4-1 win against Dubai side Al Wasl in their second round encounter of the pro league late on Wednesday.

"We are at the top of the world at the moment and that is because we have won. I am sure we will all be heroes in the newspapers tomorrow. But then football is a roller-coaster thing and I won't allow it to distract me. I will try and stand on that level bit. I don't want to get carried away," O'Leary insisted.

Home advantage

The Irishman's team cashed in on the home advantage when they were off to a dream start in the very second minute with young Ahmad Khamis accepting from Aristide Bance to push one past Majid Nasser on the Al Wasl goal.

Al Ahli's second came in the 23rd minute when a lovely Cannavaro back-heel flick found Ahmad Khalil lending the finishing touches.

And Andre Luciano Pinga da Silva all but sealed the match three minutes from halftime he tapped in a rebound from a saved penalty kick.

"We should have actually scored more goals tonight, just like last week [against Al Dhafrah] when we should have been ahead in the opening 20 minutes. But it was a good game and a good showing from us," O'Leary said.

And it may take some time before O'Leary can give a proper assessment of his side capabilities. "This is my first year and it is way too early for me to give an assessment of a team that has been handed over to me. For all my years as a player and then as manager I honestly don't know where I am headed. I don't even know the team I have. Right now, we have won and that is what matters," he said.

O'Leary gave due credit to his team for their gutsy performance. "They get the credit in how they kept on going. I can give a better assessment by Christmas time. By then I will know what this team is all about," he said.

Commenting on the talent pool at his disposal, O'Leary said: "I have been given to understand that there are some talented and promising youngsters in our team. I've got to have a look at them and see how best to prepare them to be part of this side," O'Leary said.

"There is a youngster Esmail [Al Hammadi] who is injured at the moment. I have been given to understand that we have some top class players who've got to come into the team and then they can make a huge difference," O'Leary said.

"If we get them fit then it could make us a better team," he added.