Donis wary of Dalic’s tactical nous as Saudi Arabia face UAE in Gulf Cup final

Saudi Arabia manager Georgios Donis says his side are ready to face the United Arab Emirates in Tuesday’s Gulf Cup final, but warned that Zlatko Dalic’s team possess clear tactical discipline and a coach capable of reading every detail of a match.

“Every match has its own calculations, and the way you approach it changes according to its circumstances,” Donis said at a news conference broadcast by Abu Dhabi Sports.

Saudi Arabia needed 120 minutes to overcome Qatar in their semi-final, a demanding encounter which Donis said had left his players tired.

“We played 120 minutes against Qatar in the semi-final, and that was difficult and exhausting for us, especially because the opposition played in a defensive way,” he said.

The manager added that his team would attempt to produce their best performance in the final.

“The UAE are one of the best teams in this tournament and have clear tactical discipline. Their coach, Zlatko Dalic, also has an accurate reading of every detail of the matches,” Donis said.

Dalic, who has guided the UAE to the final, was identified by Donis as a key factor in the challenge facing Saudi Arabia. However, the Greek coach said his team would concentrate on its own performance rather than focus solely on the opponents.

“We must focus on ourselves,” Donis said. “We will choose the best players in defence and attack to create opportunities, while making use of set-pieces.”

Donis’s comments came after Saudi Arabia’s physically demanding semi-final, with the team now preparing for a final against an UAE side he described as among the strongest teams in the competition.

Saudi Arabia midfielder Mohammed Kanno also acknowledged the difficulty of the fixture, while expressing confidence that the squad could deliver the required performance.

“The UAE are a strong team, but, God willing, we will be ready to win the title and make the fans happy,” Kanno said.

The prospect of a penalty shootout was also raised during the news conference. Kanno said the players would prefer to settle the contest before penalties became necessary.

“We hope we do not reach that stage. We want to decide the matter in normal time,” he said.

The final will therefore pit Saudi Arabia’s efforts to recover from a 120-minute semi-final against a UAE side praised by Donis for its organisation and tactical approach.