Al Wahda face Al Nasr in President's Cup final

Al Wahda coach Javier Aguirre said the President's Cup final against four-time champions Al Nasron Friday is among the biggest games for the club.

Playing at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, the coach said is a 'strange feeling'.

"Strangely, we have never played here," he said during the Press conference on Thursday.

Apart from midfielders Sultan Al Ghaferi and Chilean Jorge Valdivia, Al Wahda got a squad full of fit players. "We have 21 players ready to fight. So there are no excuses to not giving our best. It will be a tough game."

He said there won't be any favourites in the final as both the teams had just three points between them in the Arabian Gulf League. Al Wahda finished fifth on 59 points and Al Nasr sixth on 56. In the League meetings each team won one match.

"We are similar teams and stand a 50-50 chance. So, it will be a close game. There won't be many chances on goal. This is the final and nobody remembers the second place. I am very happy and proud to be here."  Al Nasr are the four-time President's Cup champions, while Al Wahda had won it only once before. But Aguirre said past records will hold no significance when the battle starts on the morrow.

"How many players of this team won the four titles? This is first final for the coach. There is no advantage. In the final, we never look into the past. The 90 minutes in the middle will decide who is best. All are waiting for this final."

However, lauding the effort of his team, he said: "I can promise nothing but work. Even if we can't lift the trophy we will surely put up a fight. This is a team of fighters."

Al Wahda U21 team lifted the League title and it will be a double delight if the seniors pull it off in the final on Friday.

Striker Sebastian Tagliabue said the President's Cup will be the greatest title of his career.

"This is my first President's Cup. I prefer my top scorer title to translate into championship. It will be a very tough and difficult game," he said. Meanwhile, Al Nasr coach Dan Petrescu said his players will give everything to win the trophy for the club and fans

Source: Khaleej Times