AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023/ UAE Coach: Tajikistan Are Well-Organized in Defense and Attack

Doha, January 28 (QNA) - Portuguese Paulo Bento, the coach of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) national football team said that his team did not play well in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, however, the team were able to make it to the round of 16 stage.
In a post-match press conference, Bento said that the game against Tajikistan was tough, especially that the Tajik team are one of the most well organized teams in terms of defense and attack, and are equipped with notable strikers.
The Coach added that the way the match ended was not fair, because his men completely dominated the pitch in the first half, only to lose momentum in the second half.
He praised his team players for putting their effort to the fullest throughout the match.
Bento said that Abdulrahman Al Hamdani's exist in the first half due to injury, negatively impacted the team's strategy, particularly in the second half when Tajikistan counterattacked.
The Coach said that upon looking back at his team's four matches in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, he concluded that his squad did not play well, yet he pledged to develop their abilities and skills for future tournaments, especially for the next two rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup AFC qualifiers.
Bento said that he aims to create a strong national squad that includes youthful talents in the coming period, adding that the UAE played alright in this tournament, yet that there still remains room for a lot of improvement. (QNA)