Guimaraes: the club are behind me

Ahmed Rizvi

• Last Updated: November 09. 2009 8:22PM UAE / November 9. 2009 4:22PM GMT

DUBAI // Alexandre Guimaraes, the Al Wasl coach, says he has no fears for his job as the club management, fans and players are firmly behind him.

Three coaches have been shown the exit door already this season and Guimaraes was seen as a marked man after taking just four points from five games. But the Wasl players came to his rescue with a battling performance at home against Al Wahda on Sunday night, handing him a lifeline with a 1-0 win.

Guimaraes, however, is confident the club board, who changed four coaches last season, would have stood firmly behind him even if the result had been different.

“Until now, I have got full support from the club board and the fans,” said the Brazilian. “I know that when we lost those games, there was some panic. But we are building a whole new team here with a different idea, and that is sometimes difficult to understand.

“The club board and fans are showing they have patience, which is not very usual here. But most importantly, I have the support of the players.

“Every day in training they show that they accept my leadership and our way of conducting things. When that happens, you have to be calm, continue your work and wait for the good times.”

Alexander Oliveira was the star of the night for the home team, scoring a stunning winner in the 69th minute to hand Wahda their second defeat in the Pro League this season. The victory takes Wasl’s tally to seven points from six games, while Wahda remain third on the table with 12 points.

Wahda’s assistant coach Hatem Souissi thinks the team were guilty of a laxidasical attitude at times. “We could have played with more efficiency,” said Souissi, who is standing in as Josef Hickersberger serves a three-match suspension.

arizvi@thenational.ae