UAE – Uzbekistan: Exclusive analytical interview with an expert on UAE football

Tonight, the Uzbekistan national team will play a decisive match against the UAE in the World Cup qualifiers. Before the match, we spoke with well-known Emirati sports journalist John Maclay about the current condition and capabilities of the opponent.

– John, we are very happy to meet with you once again.
– Hello, my friend! I’m also happy to see you in Dubai.

– Let’s move to football. How would you assess the current state of the UAE national team? To what extent has the recent coaching change affected the team?
– The team has not played since March. Last time, they played against North Korea with a lineup full of injuries and achieved an important victory, keeping their hopes of reaching the World Cup alive. From the point of view of results, the coaching change has not yet shown its impact, because Cosmin Olăroiu has not yet managed the team in an official match. But his arrival gave great psychological support to the players.

– Were there serious changes in the lineup after the coach was changed?
– Cosmin Olăroiu always works with a defensive tactic. This situation may cause difficulties for Uzbekistan. Also, Cosmin called up several players from his club "Sharjah." This is natural because he knows these players well.

– What result is the UAE hoping for in this situation?
– Both the team and the fans know well that only a victory will create a chance to reach the World Cup. For this reason, the UAE is preparing for the battle against Uzbekistan very seriously and from early on.

– What are your thoughts on the strong and weak sides of the UAE national team? When comparing both teams, which one do you think is in a better position going into the match?
– The position of the Uzbekistan national team in all of Asia has significantly risen in recent years. The successes of young players and the good performances of the main lineup confirm this. The presence of players like Eldor Shomurodov and Abbosbek Husanov, who are showing themselves in Europe, is worrying the UAE. They are aware of this situation and are being cautious.

– What is the psychological state of the UAE team? How much do they believe in winning against Uzbekistan?
– The psychological preparation is at a high level. If they win over Uzbekistan, they will play a decisive match against Kyrgyzstan for a World Cup ticket in the final round. This serves as very strong motivation for them.

– What is your opinion about the new head coach? What kind of results do you think Olăroiu can achieve with the UAE?
– Cosmin is one of the best coaches in Emirati football and is well-known to the fans. He has worked in Emirati football for many years and has achieved many successes. Of course, he is not perfect. There are weak points in Olăroiu's tactics, but his main strength is his motivational ability.

– Was it the right decision to change the coach at such an important time? Shouldn’t Paulo Bento have been given a chance?
– This was a very difficult decision. Many thought Bento could not bring the team to a high enough level. The players wanted to work with him, but it was clear that the results needed to change. That’s why it was decided to bring in an experienced coach like Cosmin Olăroiu.

– How do you think the new coach will influence the result of this particular game?
– Cosmin needs to improve the team's defensive game. But his greatest achievement is his ability to inspire the players. This, of course, will be a great advantage for the team.

– How much of a problem is it for the UAE that there are players like Eldor Shomurodov in the opponent’s lineup? Do they have such players in their own squad?
– Considering the level of Shomurodov and Husanov, the UAE has experienced goalkeeper Khalid Eisa and attacking players like Fabio De Lima, Marcus Meloni, and Harib Abdulla. They are also players who can use situations effectively.

– Last question. What is your prediction for tomorrow’s match?
– I think this match will be difficult for the UAE. I believe the match will end in a draw. A draw is also a good result for the UAE because Uzbekistan is a very strong opponent. I think this would not be a bad result for your national team either.

– Thank you very much for the interview, John.
– Thank you too, and I wish Uzbekistan good luck!

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