Al Shabab coach confident of turnaround despite loss

"It is just a matter of belief in the boys and their abilities. We have played good football, but this has not necessarily translated into good results for us. We are hopeful that we will continue improving and do well as the season progresses," Cerezo told Gulf News.

Al Shabab lost 3-2 at home to Al Ain in their opening match of the eitsalat Emirates Cup that got under way on Thursday.

Brazilian Mauricio Emerson proved to be the vital cog for Al Ain coach Winfried Schaefer when he nodded in a Salem Abdullah freekick with just three minutes remaining to give Al Ain full points.

The two teams had been evenly matched through the course of the match, though Al Shabab had fallen behind on two occasions, thanks to Esmail Ahmad's header (18th) and substitute Hazza Salem's deft placement (75th).

But goals from Pedrao in the 58th and Nasser Massaoud's conversion (83th) gave the home team some sort of hope of splitting points. However, Emerson had other plans as he nodded in from close to snatch all three points and head home.

"I am happy with the many positives that we can take from this game, except the result," Cerezo said.

"There are certain things that we need to work on and one of these is dead ball situations and we will be doing this when we start training again from Saturday," Cerezo said.

Al Ain coach Schaefer, who has promised he would be keen on winning every tournament that he is participating in this season, was unfazed with the way his boys secured full points. "Al Shabab have their same team while we had to cope with [the absence of] six players, who have gone into the national team," Schaefer said.

"I salute this young team as they have proved their qualities in the toughest of situations," the German added.

Schaefer admitted that he is now looking forward to the break from matches so that he can concentrate on some of the finer aspects of the game with the team. The UFL takes a short break till October 17 when the third round of UFL matches will begin.