UAE Manager speaks ahead of Gulf Cup Final

The UAE have reached the Gulf Cup final after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Oman, but head coach Zlatko Dalic believes his team will need to improve if they are to beat Saudi Arabia. Ousmane Camara scored the decisive goal with a 22nd-minute header, while Nicolas Gimenez later saw a penalty saved as Oman threatened to get back into the game.

Despite reaching the final, Dalic admitted the UAE did not produce their best performance. The Croatian coach said he was pleased with the result but wants his players to create more chances and improve their style of play against Saudi Arabia. The UAE have remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, opening with wins over Yemen and Bahrain before drawing with Iraq and then edging past Oman in the semi-final.

The final will take place in Jeddah on Tuesday, with Saudi Arabia enjoying home advantage after beating Qatar on penalties following a goalless draw. Dalic expects a difficult match in front of a packed stadium, but the UAE will have plenty of support of their own, with six special flights arranged to take fans to Jeddah. The UAE are aiming to win the Gulf Cup for a third time, having previously lifted the trophy in 2007 and 2013.