Sports analyst Spite Khattar stated that the four clubs (Al Ain, Shabab Al Ahli, United, and Al Jazira) that qualified for the President's Cup semi-finals deserved their advancement based on their performance in the quarter-final matches. He noted that Al Ain and Shabab Al Ahli have become strong candidates with a 70% chance of reaching the final.
In an interview with "Al Ittihad," Spite Khattar said that the results were mostly predictable, as the qualifying teams earned their spot through their performance throughout the tournament. He emphasized the difficulty of the upcoming semi-final matchups, which the draw set as strong encounters: Al Jazira vs. Shabab Al Ahli and Al Ain against the tournament's surprise, United.
He mentioned that Shabab Al Ahli and Al Ain are strong candidates to win, but at the same time, he warned that Al Jazira's strength should not be overlooked, nor should United, which is capable of another surprise after defeating Sharjah and Al Wahda.
"The only surprise was the United team, which showed a very high level and displayed a strong character, making them resemble big teams in other tournaments," the analyst continued. "Meanwhile, Shabab Al Ahli presented a realistic performance that befits their level and expected presence."
"The return of Al Jazira at this time is important for everyone," he noted. "The team deserved its place in the semi-finals based on its performance against Bani Yas, and other teams must consider this opponent a strong and difficult one."
Regarding the level of the Al Wahda team and their exit from the tournament, Spite Khattar said: "The team faced difficult circumstances after the unexpected departure of coach Jose Morais, and the interim coach was not able to continue maintaining the good results the team achieved in the first half of the season."
He added that some of the team's past negative results were due to a lack of technical stability, when an assistant coach led the matches, and the players tried to compensate for the deficiency. However, he believed that technical leadership was necessary to avoid a decline in performance.
The analyst also pointed out that Al Wahda showed a fluctuating level, which contributed to the decline in the team's ambitions they started the season with. "I believe the management provided the club with all the necessary requirements, including attracting the best players, but the coach's sudden departure negatively affected the team's trajectory," he said.
Regarding the match between Al Jazira and Bani Yas and "Pride of Abu Dhabi's" difficult qualification to the semi-finals, Spite Khattar believes the team showed a fighting spirit and high perseverance, which gives them a good chance to advance to the final. He pointed out that the two big clubs, Shabab Al Ahli and Al Ain, have great stability in terms of players and technical staff, making their progress to the final a natural expectation. However, he warned that the performance during the matches will give the advantage to the more focused team, which confirms that Al Jazira and United still have a chance to reach the final.
Regarding Al Wahda's contract with coach Darko Milanic, Spite Khattar considers the choice appropriate at this stage, especially since the coach lived with the team last season and knows the players and the system well. He indicated that this decision enhances technical stability and gives the team a chance to return to its natural level after a period of fluctuating results.
Spite Khattar confirmed that football is full of surprises, and consistent performance and technical leadership are the main factors for reaching the podium. He praised the great efforts made by the players of all teams during the quarter-finals.
