Al-Wahda lost the 2006 league despite needing a point in the last 4 matches

Football analyst and former international player, Subit Khater, confirmed that the upcoming confrontation between Shabab Al-Ahly and Al-Ain, within the 22nd round of the professional league, scheduled for tomorrow, is open to all possibilities, stressing that the chances of the two teams remain equal in theory, and are not subject to prior calculations, as much as they are decided with precise details on the field.

Khater told “Emirates Today” that “the balance seems completely balanced between Al Ain and Shabab Al Ahly, in light of the strengths and experiences each party possesses accumulated over the years, especially in such large confrontations.” He added: “What can be said with certainty is that the two teams will enter the match with the slogan of victory, given the importance of the match, which represents a turning point in their journey in the league race, which enhances the intensity of the rivalry and gives the confrontation a special character.”

He stressed that “the result of the summit, whatever it may be, will not mean clinching the league title, even if Al Ain widens the gap, recalling previous scenarios that confirm that the competition remains open until the final rounds.”

He explained: “In the 2005-2006 season, Al-Wahda was very close to being crowned, as it needed one point from its remaining four matches in the competition, before losing the title dramatically to the benefit of Shabab Al-Ahly. Such experiences prove that football does not recognize guarantees.”

He pointed out: “The only bright spot in the victory of one of the two teams is that it was given a strong morale boost during the remaining matches of the league, in exchange for increasing the pressure on the other party, but that does not mean resolving the conflict, which will remain present and open until the final round.”

Artistic glow for the league

Subait Khater confirmed that the league is currently going through one of its best stages, in terms of the technical level, with the competition entering its decisive stages, and the competition continuing normally despite the events taking place in the region.

He said: “Everyone is anticipating the exciting conflict at the summit between Al Ain and Shabab Al Ahly, the difficulty of predicting who will win the title, and the strong competition between Al Jazira, Al Wahda and Al Wasl clubs to reserve a qualifying seat for the AFC Champions League, in addition to the Al Qaa struggle between Dibba, Al Bataeh and Al Dhafra, which increases the importance of each round and makes it more exciting.”

He added: “The struggle for third place is no less important than the lead, because of the dimensions it carries related to Asian participation, and enhancing the status of clubs through participation in an external tournament that provides strong contact with different continental schools, which has implications for the strength of the teams in local tournaments.”

He pointed out that “Al-Wahda went through difficult circumstances after the technical changes it witnessed, but it succeeded in maintaining its balance and continuing to compete on more than one front, whether in the AFC Champions League or through the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Cup,” adding: “By the way, Abu Dhabi Bank has clearly contributed its great support to the development of this competition, as this tournament has become among the interests of the professional league clubs that are now competing with their full stars after previously participating with second-row players and the reserve team.”

He explained: “Al-Jazeera is also experiencing its best period in this stage of the competition, despite its loss in the last round to Shabab Al-Ahly, and this was reflected in its presence in third place, two points behind its closest rivals, and its rise to the final match of the President’s Cup.”

Subit Khater explained that the experience of the Portuguese coach, Rui Vitoria, with Al Wasl would be judged hasty at the present time, and the technical staff must be given sufficient time to implement its ideas.

He continued: “Clarity of goals by the administration plays a fundamental role in evaluating any training experience, whether it is related to immediate competition or building a team for the future, but in any case, a team the size of Al-Wasl cannot be excluded from the equation of competition for third place.”

Battle for survival

Subit Khater ruled out Sharjah’s return to competition in the relegation struggle, saying: “Sharjah has distinctive elements that keep it away from the relegation struggle, but it needs a change in the mentality of its players, so that the motives shift from the mere desire to collect money to the serious pursuit of achieving results and winning championships.”

He said: “Sharjah’s return to the competition circle will give the league greater momentum, given the club’s large fan base and long history.”

He stressed that “teams fighting for survival face enormous pressure, especially with the end of the season approaching and the number of matches being limited, which makes every confrontation a final.”

He explained: “The decisive factor in this conflict will not only be technical, but will be primarily psychological, as the players’ desire and determination play a major role in determining the identity of the team that will remain in the professional league from among the three clubs currently fighting, and every match remains a nightmare for these clubs, and its impact can only be overcome by victory.”

Subit Khater stressed that there is more than one team that represents a recurring puzzle every season, despite the availability of the material and human capabilities that make them among the teams nominated to compete for the title or reserve a seat in the AFC Champions League.

He said: “Al-Nasr appears strongly in certain periods of the season, but it declines when the real competition conflict enters, without a clear explanation for that, and the same applies to Kalba, which repeats the scenario of a good start in every season, and then declines significantly as its end approaches.”

He added: “These phenomena require a serious pause from the technical departments, to understand the real causes and address them, in a way that ensures stable performance and achieves results commensurate with the capabilities of those teams.”

message

Khater sent an important message to the fans and players at the end of his statements, in which he called for calm and to avoid emotional behavior, noting that the friction that occurs after matches is a common occurrence in football.

He cited what happened recently between Khaled Al-Sanani and Al-Wasl fans, stressing that players are human beings and may go through moments of emotion, but that does not justify crossing boundaries. He also stressed the importance of the fans’ role in supporting their teams positively.

Spit Khater:

. Sharjah is outside the relegation calculations, and the remaining bottom matches are like a “nightmare.”

. The league is currently going through one of its best stages in terms of technical level.

. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank contributed its great support to the development of the Professional Cup competition clearly.

. The race for third place is heating up… and the level of Al-Nasr and Kalba raises questions.