Abu Dhabi: Coach Winfried Schaefer and star striker Jorge Valdivia dismissed any pressure in Al Ain's pursuit of a treble while Al Shabab coach Toninho Cerezo promised an exciting, high-quality affair in today's President Cup football final.
"We are happy to be in such a situation. It is a sort of happy pressure. We deserve this pressure. We work for it," said Schaefer, whose team won the etisalat Cup on April 3 and are third in the UAE Professional League.
"When we won the etisalat Cup our rivals Al Wahda were playing for their only title of the season. In tomorrow's final Al Shabab are in a similar situation so we know what to expect," said the German, adding that it will be a highly-competitive affair.
Valdivia, the Colombian skipper of Al Ain, said his players were focused. "I am a bad loser, so I and my team want to win. But we are not thinking of the treble. We focused on the etisalat Cup and won it. Now we are only concentrating on the President's Cup," Valdivia said.
"Finals are always difficult matches. This will also be a strong and difficult match. But the team that makes lesser mistakes will prevail and I hope it is Al Ain," he said.
Cerezo predicted an exciting final. "Both teams enjoy a high standard technically and it will be an exciting match," the former Brazilian international said.
"The players have already put behind them the 1-4 loss in the Asian Champions League and are looking forward to this final."
