Tribune News Network
Kuwait City
Bahrain head coach Dragan Talajic believes he can outfox his predecessor Juan Pizzi who is now in charge of the Kuwait side that he faces in the semi-final of the Khaleeji Zain 26 – Arabian Gulf Cup on Tuesday night at the Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium (kick off 8.45pm).
Talajic praised Pizzi as an “excellent coach who I have huge respect for” and admitted that the Argentinean knows his players just as well as he does.
“My full respect for Mr Pizzi for all his work with Bahrain,” said Talajic at the eve-of-match press conference. “He is a very good coach. He was working with my boys before me and knows everything about us. But tomorrow is not a game between Pizzi and Dragan.
“We respect Kuwait. The game is 50-50 because this is a semi-final but I hope my boys play nice football, like Kuwait too. A full stadium, 60,000 people, it will be a great occasion for everyone.” Bahrain have reached the semi-finals at the last three Gulf Cup editions, winning the crown for the only time in 2019, but their latest ambitions took a knock when they lost to Yemen in their final Group B game after two earlier wins.
“Yes, we lost to Yemen and I take responsibility,” he said. “I put 11 new players on the pitch. Yemen played much better and congratulations to them, once again, for a good performance. It was a slap to me and to my players but it will be good for our players to bounce back for our Kingdom.”
Talajic declined to talk tactics and only reiterated: “You will see tomorrow night, God willing, what my boys can do.”
Kuwait coach Pizzi to
give away nothing
Meanwhile, Kuwait head coach Jian Pizzi is giving nothing away ahead of the mammoth Khaleeji Zain 26 semi-final face-off with his former employers Bahrain.
The Bahrain team that has impressed in Kuwait, but lost their last Group B encounter to Yemen.
Pizzi was national manager of Bahrain prior to taking up his post in Kuwait in the summer, so knows his opposition players well, but he was keeping his cards close to his chest at the eve-of-match press conference.
“Every team has positive and negatives, and we have analysed their team but I will not share my style of play here today or give anything away,” he said. “What I can say is that we will fight in order to achieve the best result for Kuwait.”
Kuwait will be without suspended star midfielder Ahmed Al Dhefiri for the match, but Pizzi said his squad has prepared well and is confident of advancing towards another final and their 11th Gulf title.
“The fans have been right behind us and we call on them to support the national team against who will give their best on the field,” said Pizzi, adding that his team has shown “big development” in the six months that he has been in charge.
Bahrain had the luxury of resting key players for their defeat against Yemen, having already qualified with two previous victories, and Pizzi accepts this is an advantage for them.
“We have had three days of rest, although there has been the big pressure of the matches to date on my players but we are very optimistic and share the fans’ hopes for a positive result.”
