Al-Arabi coach Nasser Al-Shatti.

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: Al-Arabi coach Nasser Al-Shatti admitted that his team dropped two valuable points in the Zain Premier League title race after a goalless draw against Khaitan in the 14th round. However, he emphasized that the competition is still long and remains open.

Al-Shatti acknowledged that Al-Arabi did not meet expectations, despite the team’s awareness that some opponents would adopt defensive tactics against them. He also pointed out that "luck was not on our side."

Expressing his dissatisfaction with the limited actual playtime in the match, particularly in the second half, he estimated that effective play did not exceed 20 minutes. However, he conceded that "it is a legitimate strategy for any team." Al-Shatti urged referees to address this issue in future matches by using disciplinary measures. "We support the referees in their efforts to improve the league," he added.

Looking ahead to Al-Arabi’s upcoming clash against Kuwait Club on Saturday in the 15th round, Al-Shatti described it as an important match requiring full concentration but stopped short of calling it decisive.

Meanwhile, Kuwait Club's Montenegrin coach Nebojsa Jovovic emphasized the significance of his team’s victory over Yarmouk, especially given recent injury struggles. He stressed the importance of player recovery ahead of its challenging encounter against Al-Arabi, stating, "Our goal is to stay on course for the title."

Adel Aqla described the upcoming match against Al-Arabi as a “summit clash,” irrespective of the teams’ current standings. He praised Al-Arabi’s strong performances and rich football history.

Aqla expressed confidence in Kuwait Club’s squad depth, ensuring that the team will field fully prepared players for the fixture. He highlighted the team’s dominant 6-0 win over Yarmouk in the fourth round as proof of its intent to avoid past struggles, referencing the narrow 2-1 victory over the same opponent earlier in the season. On fan support, Aqla appreciated the growing attendance at Kuwait Club matches. "Even if just one fan shows up, we will fight to make him happy," he remarked. He acknowledged that Kuwait Club has the third-largest fan base in the country after Al-Qadsiya and Al-Arabi, urging full attendance to support the team’s title push.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff