What did Cosmin Olariu say about tomorrow's match against Uzbekistan?

The press conference before the 9th round match of the third stage of World Cup qualification between UAE and Uzbekistan took place on June 4. In the first part, the hosts were represented by head coach Cosmin Olăroiu and goalkeeper Khalid Eisa.

"Good evening everyone. It is an honor for me to be here. I believe that through my work, I can help this team achieve great success. It surely won’t be easy, but we are ready for everything. Tomorrow will be a very tough game. Uzbekistan is one of the best teams in the group. They are showing very organized and balanced football. We tried to prepare as well as possible over the past week. Now we need to guide and motivate the guys correctly. A big match and a big battle await us. We believe in our strength and will fight with everything we’ve got," said Cosmin Olăroiu.

"It definitely won’t be an easy game. Right now, we have an experienced coach like Cosmin Olăroiu. He has been working in the UAE for 10 years. Tomorrow we will give everything to achieve a positive result," said Khalid Eisa.

— This is your first press conference as head coach of the UAE national team. How did the preparation go? What are your general expectations?
— When a team changes its coach, many things naturally change. I have known the players of this team for many years. It's hard to make big changes in such a short time. We spent the last week preparing. I saw great motivation in the players, and at times I even told them they needed to calm down a little. I think that’s a good trait.

— What do you expect from the match against Uzbekistan?
Khalid Eisa: Honestly, we are happy to work with Cosmin Olăroiu. He is a very experienced and respected person. I’ve been playing for the national team and clubs for 15 years. He has a strong spirit. I haven’t seen coaches with such qualities. I believe Olăroiu is one of the few who can achieve results in a short time. I am confident that we will succeed under his leadership.

— Your debut as head coach in an official match is approaching. The UAE wants to return to the World Cup after 35 years. What can you say about the current situation?
— Thank you for the kind words. Understand that I am just a small part of the team. I must give my best effort, because the players of this team have a goal. If they manage to qualify for the World Cup, it could change a lot in their careers. The fans are also waiting for this. We know it will not be easy. Right now, Uzbekistan is one of the strongest national teams in Asia. In my career, I’ve often faced teams that were stronger than us.

— The fans have great faith in the team. What would you say to them?
— I think we are now closer than ever to reaching the World Cup. The entire nation believes in it. We just need to continue on our path. In many matches we played better than the opponent, but the result did not always go our way. We all want to reach the World Cup. This is our dream. To make it come true, we must unite over the next five days.

— Your previous team was Sharjah. Now, are most of the national players from that club?
— It doesn’t matter to me whether a player is from Sharjah, Al Ain, or any other club. Yes, the players from Sharjah played under me in recent seasons, and maybe it’s easier for them to understand my instructions. But this is the national team. Only those who deserve it should be in the main squad. I must gather the best players in the UAE, regardless of which club they come from.