Maintaining the top spot in the league despite the pressure of competition is a positive thing

Shabab Al-Ahly player, Federico Cartabia, confirmed that the 1-1 draw with Al-Wasl the day before yesterday at the top of the 18th round of the professional league does not diminish the value of the performance presented by the team, indicating that maintaining the lead despite the pressure of competition is a positive thing in this sensitive stage of the season, stressing that playing for a big team means fighting for every championship.

The summit confrontation at Zabeel Stadium ended in an exciting draw, during which Al-Wasl advanced first before Shabab Al-Ahly succeeded in equalizing, raising the “Knights” to 42 points in first place, only one point behind Al-Ain, while Al-Wasl remained fourth with 30 points, and Shabab Al-Ahly retained the top spot in the standings for the second round in a row despite the difficulty and sensitivity of the match.

Cartabia told Emirates Today: “It was a strong and difficult match, but we came out with a good result that keeps us in first place. This is what is most important for us at this stage of the league, to continue competing from the lead position.”

He added: “When you play in a big team like Shabab Al-Ahly, it is natural that you fight every season to win titles. This is the club’s creed, and this is what we live daily within the team. For us, competing with Al Ain or any other team is normal, and we must maintain the same level and focus until the end.”

Kartabia pointed out the importance of rapid preparation for the next match in the AFC Champions League, stressing that the team is facing a new challenge that is no less important. He explained: “In four days, we will play a strong match against the Iranian team Tractor in the AFC Champions League. This is the most important tournament on the continent, and we will try to qualify for the next round and continue on the path towards the advanced rounds.”

The player concluded his speech with great confidence in the team’s ability to move forward in the two tournaments: “We have a strong team with a high spirit, and if we continue to work with the same seriousness, we will be able to end the season with great success at the level of the two tournaments. “We will play for the lead and to go far in Asia.”