Talaich: I trust the players and we will deliver a good performance

Croatian coach Dragan Talajić expressed confidence in his players’ ability to deliver a better performance against the United Arab Emirates today in the second round of Group 2 matches at Gulf Cup 27, noting the difficulty of competition in the tournament and emphasizing that qualification chances remain open for all teams.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Talajić said, “I congratulate all teams that achieved success in the first round. This is a tough tournament, and everyone has a chance to qualify. I believe in my players, and we will deliver a strong performance. The team we are facing played a very strong match previously and has high-quality players.”

Regarding the clash with the UAE national team, Talajić added, “We must be faster throughout the match and not give them any opportunities. Zlatko Kranjčar is the best coach in the tournament, and I congratulate the UAE Football Association on his appointment. The UAE team is in a better position than us because they won their first match, unlike us.”

For his part, Bahraini national team player Mehdi Abduljabbar confirmed that he and his teammates are working to correct mistakes and improve their effectiveness in front of goal. He said, “We will not use the weather as an excuse, as we have played in these conditions before, and we are trying to improve our finishing.”

He added, “We trust the coach’s tactics, and all players want to give their best. However, lapses in concentration or poor decision-making can occur, and we will work on improving our decisions in the next match.”