One must fall

Experience will trump form in tomorrow night's Etisalat Cup semi-final between Al Ahli and Al Wasl at Rashid Stadium, according to Red Knights coach Quique Sanchez Flores. Diego Maradona's Al Wasl have beaten Al Ahli in five of their last six encounters, but the fact Flores has reached four major finals in three years — the Portuguese League Cup, the Uefa Europa League, the Uefa Super Cup and the Spanish Cup, losing only the latter — gives an advantage to his team in the eyes of the former Atletico Madrid and Benfica coach. "This is the moment to change history," Flores said. "You never know what can happen in a semi-final, but for sure it will be a competitive match between two good sides. One must fall It's Al Wasl against Al Ahli, Maradona against Flores, in the semi-finals of the Etisalat Cup Darwish Ahmad of Al Wasl and Tarek Ahmad of Al Ahli in action during a President’s Cup match at Al Nasr Club in Dubai. The two teams clash in the semi-final of the Etisalat Cup tomorrow, with two of UAE football’s most high profile coaches, Diego Maradona and Quique Sanchez Flores, doing battle. Dubai: Experience will trump form in tomorrow night's Etisalat Cup semi-final between Al Ahli and Al Wasl at Rashid Stadium, according to Red Knights coach Quique Sanchez Flores. Diego Maradona's Al Wasl have beaten Al Ahli in five of their last six encounters, but the fact Flores has reached four major finals in three years — the Portuguese League Cup, the Uefa Europa League, the Uefa Super Cup and the Spanish Cup, losing only the latter — gives an advantage to his team in the eyes of the former Atletico Madrid and Benfica coach. "This is the moment to change history," Flores said. "You never know what can happen in a semi-final, but for sure it will be a competitive match between two good sides. Article continues below "I think it's the most important match of the season for us and we arrive here mentally and physically prepared. "To arrive in a final would be good news for the club and this is the kind of news we need for the happiness of the fans. "I'm used to arriving in finals. I've been lucky in the last three years that I've been in four finals and for me it's always amazing to arrive at this situation. I have the experience to prepare the team for such occasions. But we are only thinking about the semi-final at this stage, not the final — that's the best way." The Maradona effect Flores added: "I only hope the referee does not think about Diego Maradona being on the pitch, because in the last game between us I don't have good memories of the refereeing. Sometimes Maradona's personality affects the decision of the referee." Flores has been linked with moves to European giants Inter Milan and Chelsea in the last week, but he remains focused on the task at hand. "It's not a distraction. I'm always on the list," he said. "I feel close to the Al Ahli fans and have always maintained I would only discuss my future at the end of the season."