Moatasem Abdullah (Dubai)
Al-Nasr mobilized all its moral weapons, starting with the players, the technical staff, the administration, and the fans, in preparation for the most important event in the “Blue” season 2023-2024, when its rival and neighbor Al-Wasl will compete for the most expensive championship title, the “President’s Cup,” in the expected match on Friday evening at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium. in the eye.
The ranks of “Al-Ameed” aspiring to win a fifth “Most Expensive Cup” title after the seasons of 1984-1985, 1985-1986, 1988-1989 and 2014-2015 appear to be complete with the return of goalkeeper Ahmed Shembieh, and the readiness of Ahmed Jashk, Gustavo Alex, and Hussein Mahdi, who were absent from the round match. Last in the league against Khor Fakkan 1-2.
The Bosnian Samir Mecevic, “the Brigadier General’s Joker” in the defense and midfield lines, admitted that thinking about the final match completely dominated their focus, and that the team did not provide the required performance in its match against Al-Wahda 0-1, before achieving a moral victory at the expense of Khor Fakkan 2-1. In preparation for facing the most expensive cup final against Al Wasl tomorrow.
In his speech to Al-Ittihad, Mecevic said: “The match against Al-Wasl in the final of His Highness the President’s Cup has been occupying our thoughts for quite some time, but we focused on facing Khor Fakkan and proved that we have the personality and mentality that makes us focus on each match separately.”
He added: “The derby is an important and big match for us, and what doubles the importance of the next derby is that it will be held in the final of the Cup of His Highness the President of the State, and it is one match that separates you from winning one of the most important tournaments of the season, and we are working to appear in the best possible way, and we are confident that the coach will develop the plan.” Ideal for dealing with the competitor, and proving to everyone that we have reached this match, because we deserve to compete for this big cup.”
Regarding the major change that occurred in the “Dean” from a team occupying a late position at the beginning of the season, to another in fifth place, and competing for the title of “the most expensive championships,” Mmisevich returned the credit to his Dutch coach, Alfred Schroeder, and said: “Schroeder changed everything in the team.” “Whether it was the game plan or the mentality of the players, he inspired us to fight to win every match.”
He added: “Our coach deserves praise and his work team as well, because they did a very great job, and I think everyone saw the huge difference between what Al-Nasr was at the beginning of the season, and what it has become at the present time, and it is enough to see the number of points we have earned since he assumed responsibility for coaching the team.” And the way he led us to reach the final match in the cup, and for these reasons, our victory in this cup will be miraculous and deserved at the same time.”
Commenting on the impact of the Bur Dubai Derby poles being away from winning the most expensive cup for several seasons, the Al-Ameed midfielder said: “We know that Al-Nasr and Al-Wasl have been away from the podium for a long time, but the situation has changed this season, as Al-Wasl has been providing strong levels since… The beginning of the season, and playing beautiful football, and its presence at the top of the league is fully deserved, and Al-Nasr improved very significantly in the second half of the season, and is currently competing to reach the top four places, and by analogy, the two teams deserve to be in the final, and I hope that the cup will go to Al-Nasr.” .
He added: “The chances of the two teams to win the cup seem equal, despite Al-Wasl’s advantage over Al-Nasr in the league standings, but the finals have a special nature, and are not affected by the previous circumstances of the two teams, and are decided by small details such as individual errors, for example, as happened when we lost to them in the league.” With a goal from an individual error, even though we were good for most of that match.”
He pointed out that everyone did not expect at the beginning of the season that Al-Nasr would reach the cup final, and added: “For us, there is nothing to lose. On the contrary, we have a wonderful opportunity to win a very important title, and we must fight for it.”
The atmosphere of the finals is an “extra incentive”
Samir Mecevic, who is in his second season with Al-Ameed, expressed his lack of the atmosphere of the finals, and said: “I miss the atmosphere of the finals, the enthusiasm, and the large crowd attendance, because most of the matches in the league are held in the presence of a small number of fans.”
He added: “I am confident that the stadium will be full of fans, and the atmosphere will be motivating for the players, and I expect the fans to do a great job in the stands, but before all that we will have to prepare for this confrontation in the best way possible and work to give everything we have on the field until we win the cup.”
Successful contribution
Samir Mmicevic contributed to his deserved team qualifying for the final of the “Most Expensive Cup” by scoring a goal in a match against Shabab Al-Ahly in the semi-finals of the President’s Cup, 4-3, after an extension for two additional periods, and the “Dean” waited until the second additional period, after a 2-2 draw. In normal time, the qualification was decided 4-3, and the goals of “Blue” were scored by Adel Taarabt (a brace) in the 12th and 117th minutes, and Samir Mecevic in the 97th minute.
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