Sousa: Ahly's Young Stars Poised for Success Thanks to Players' Exceptional Mentality

Shabab Al-Ahli's Portuguese coach Paulo Sousa expressed his joy after his team secured a spot in the UAE President's Cup quarterfinals following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Al-Bataeh. The match highlighted both the team's attacking prowess and their resilience despite significant injury challenges.

Shabab Al-Ahli advanced to the quarterfinals the hard way, defeating Al-Bataeh 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw through regular and extra time at Khalid bin Mohammed Stadium in Sharjah on Saturday. The match proved to be a tense affair, with both teams playing cautiously despite Al-Ahli's clear attacking advantage.

The statistics tell the story of Al-Ahli's dominance. They reached Al-Bataeh goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Ameri's goal 15 times but couldn't find the back of the net. Al-Ameri put in a standout performance to keep his team in the match.

"I'm extremely happy with what the team delivered, and the players' determination to achieve the deserved victory despite all the difficulties we faced," Sousa said in the post-match press conference. "We created many chances during regular and extra time, but luck wasn't on our side in scoring. Still, I feel proud of all Shabab Al-Ahli players as they were extraordinary heroes."

Sousa highlighted the injury crisis affecting his squad, particularly in the attacking line. Several players pushed through injuries knowing the team needed them, while others picked up knocks during the match itself. But the Portuguese coach praised their fighting spirit throughout the encounter.

The coach also addressed the tactical challenges his team faced against Al-Bataeh's physical approach. "The opponent was characterized by physical strength and committed many fouls that disrupted the rhythm of play," he explained. "I prefer not to talk much about this aspect, but it's important for the media to highlight such behaviors for the benefit of UAE football."

Sousa emphasized that his team relies on speed and dynamic play. When the game's tempo slows down or gets interrupted frequently, it affects their performance and limits their attacking capabilities.

Despite the frustrating nature of the match, Sousa remained positive about his squad's mentality. "Any coach working with this group of players feels proud, because they have a professional mentality and high fighting spirit," he concluded. "I'm confident that the club's goals will be achieved this season thanks to them."

The result keeps Shabab Al-Ahli's cup ambitions alive as they continue to battle through injury problems. Their ability to grind out results when not at their best could prove crucial as the tournament progresses to the business end.