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Dubai: A top official from President's Cup winners Al Ahli is hoping his team has learnt from mistakes made last season.
"Last year has given us a strong and hard lesson and I hope we have learnt from these mistakes of the past," Abdul Majid Hussain, the team director for Al Ahli told Gulf News.
The senior squad has returned from their European training stint earlier this week. They continued the last part of their preparations under Czech coach Ivan Hasek.
"As part of the management, we need to ensure we do not commit the same mistakes from the past. We need to ensure certain things don't happen again," he added.
Al Ahli made a disastrous start to the season losing 1-2 to Al Shaab in their first game last season. But they regrouped and came back strongly under coach Hasek to win the President's Cup by dethroning champions Al Wasl.
Qualities
Turning the final bend of the league, Al Ahli were in the most advantageous position to record a double. But they faltered with successive draws against Al Wasl (3-3) and lowly Emirates Club (1-1).
"Those two results cost us the league title eventually," Hussain rued.
"Of course we won against Al Nasr (5-0), but in the drawn games we lost the opportunity to fight for the title," the official stated.
"For sure, all of us have learnt our lessons and we will be tougher both mentally and physically this season," Hussain promised.
Al Ahli's preparations for the new season have been good so far. Following a couple of weeks spent in Austria, the squad moved to London for another two weeks for a couple of friendlies. They drew 2-2 against Tottenham Hotspur and won 3-2 against a reserve Arsenal side.
"These matches were important in helping our players assimilate the finer qualities of being professional in their approach," Hussain stated.
Season
Al Ahli will continue fine-tuning their preparations for the new season with training sessions every day.
The President's Cup winners will face league champions and neighbours Al Shabab in the one-off Super Cup encounter to be played at the Al Nasr Club's Maktoum Stadium on September 14. Their first league match will also be at the same venue when they take on Al Nasr the following week on September 19.
"We are hoping to make a strong start, something that we did not manage last season. There are too many teams out there who are keen to have good results and win the title at the end of the season, and Al Ahli is definitely one of them," Hussain added.
"The players need to hit the ground running and then keep up the concentration through the season. This is going to be a tough task indeed and we are confident our players can do it," Hussain vouched.
Two more friendlies
Al Ahli have lined up at least two friendly matches leading up to their season opener against Al Shabab on September 14. In all likelihood, Al Ahli will play Dibba Al Hisn tomorrow and then prepare to face Brazilian side Atletico Paranaense in their second friendly scheduled for September 6. Atletico Paranaense last year signed UAE striker Abdullah Al Kamali and the team is visiting the UAE as part of their preparations.
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