Abu Dhabi: United Arab Emirates head coach Alberto Zaccheroni has taken full responsibility for his side’s 4-0 defeat to Qatar in Tuesday’s AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 semi-final encounter. 



Two goals in either half saw the Qataris progress with relative ease as the UAE were left unable to emulate the nation’s run to the final in 1996 despite the backing of a passionate crowd at Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

“I would like to apologise to the UAE fans for the result,” declared Zaccheroni, who guided Japan to the AFC Asian Cup title in 2011."



“We all made mistakes, but everyone did their very best. We wanted to make the UAE people happy and we tried until the end. However, we have to admit that the Qatar team were better.

“I am the coach, and I am the first one to be held responsible for the loss. I admit that the tactics that I used at the beginning did not pay off. I tried to change them but by then it was too late.”

 


Semi-final: Qatar vs UAE

Having seen his side emerge as Group A winners, and then beat Kyrgyz Republic and Australia in the Round of 16 and quarter-finals respectively, Zaccheroni was left bitterly disappointed by how his side exited the competition.

“For us, to reach the semi-final of the AFC Asian Cup does not mean a lot. I am not satisfied; the players are not satisfied.

“We were not expecting this kind of defeat and the pressure on the players was very high today. We failed to succeed, but this is football."

"I took charge of the UAE 15 months ago and although we did not reach the final, we have put in a lot of work and sacrificed a lot.

“I am very proud to be in charge of a UAE team which I believe is excellent. Our aim was always to win the AFC Asian Cup and I signed a contract with the UAE Football Association until the end of the competition.”


Source: the-afc.com