UAE coach's new tactics paying rich dividends

The UAE are viewing their draw against China with optimism, ahead of the Asian Cup competition, despite being surrounded by hurdles which could hamper them from achieving a good result in the competition.

The UAE suffered from a change in their technical staff a month before the Asian Cup since the FA signed up new coach, Dutchman Aad de Mos.

The new coach had no chance to select his players as he was appointed after the end of the local season. He only had videos of old matches to study his players, 10 days before taking them to a camp in Austria.

The team also suffered from injuries that kept a number of key players away, namely midfielder Abdul Rahim Jumaa, libero Ali Massari, right wing back Ali Al Waheebi and more recently, right full back Humaid Fakher.

In addition to these problems the new coach has changed the team's style of play from 4:4:2, to 4:4:1:1 and 4:3:3. But the result of the recent friendly against China showed that the players understand the coach's requirements and performed accordingly.

Aad de Mos has introduced midfielder Subait Khater as a right full back and the player registered success in his new role, while filling in for Fakher.

The team also has Khalid Ali, who plays as a right full back for Al Jazira and has also functioned in the same position for the Olympic and senior teams.

But the UAE coach opted for change and his gamble paid off in the friendly despite the fact that official matches are different and require more concentration.

"The team's performance as a group justified the changes the coach has made," Mohsin Mosabah, team administrator and former UAE international told Gulf News from Beijing.

"We are happy with the match and we look forward to better performances in the competition, specially as our group features strong teams including South Korea, Kuwait and Jordan," Mosabah said.