Franky Vercauteren has revealed he is “honoured” to be able to test himself against Diego Maradona but believes the result of Al Jazira’s Etisalat Cup clash against Al Wasl will be decided by the players, not the coaches
All eyes will be on the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium this evening as the former Argentina boss leads out his new side against the double winners for his first competitive game in charge.
Since taking the reins at Wasl, Maradona has overseen a period of significant change with four new foreign players arriving over the summer, along with a host of local signings.
Much of the world’s media, particularly in Argentina, will be hoping to get a glimpse of what lies in store for the Dubai-based club but while Vercauteren is looking forward to taking on the former Barcelona and Napoli star in the dugout, he says it is just a game like any other.
“I am very honoured to be compared and tested with Maradona,” Vercauteren said. “I feel honoured by this and for me it is a really big ambition. On the other side, it is a game like any other game so of course I know it brings a little bit extra pressure when Maradona is there but for me it is team against team.”
He added: “The team is going to beat the team of Maradona and of course it is good to do that, it is good to be in the picture but this is not my priority. Maradona is good, I have a lot of respect for Maradona. It’s a highlight to be against him on Thursday because you don’t always have the opportunity.”
The Jazira boss played twice against Maradona for Belgium against Argentina, the most notable a World Cup semi-final in 1986, and he has backed his opposite number to prove a success despite criticism during his time in charge of his national side.
“I think everyone gets better with experience, so I think Maradona will also have learned from what he did before,” Vercauteren added. “It’s normal you try to become better in all the things you do, so I think that Maradona is better than before.
“Of course it is different, national team and club team but mostly the trainer has his own way of working, has his own way of thinking, has his own way of explaining some things to the players.”
Meanwhile, Vercauteren said the team had to “accept” they were a few weeks behind their opponents after a summer dominated by the club’s search for a new coach.
The former Racing Genk boss was only unveiled on 21st August, less than three weeks before their Super Cup clash with Al Wahda, a defeat Wahda boss Josef Hickersberger accredited to their disrupted pre-season.
Asked if that was a factor in the penalty shoot-out loss, Vercauteren said: “It is possible because when you have a preparation of two weeks, with a new coach normally it takes a bit more time to get what you want, as good physically as tactically and you want to work with them.”
