Jorge Luis Pinto says goodbye to the United Arab Emirates team

Jorge Luis Pinto terminated his role as director of the United Arab Emirates team, after five months of being appointed to the position. As reported by the Colombian portal Futbolred, the coach terminated the contract by mutual agreement he had with the Arab squad, “Well, things did not work out as everyone expected.”

“The decision comes five months after his appointment and just as the qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup resume. After long meetings with Coach Pinto, we agreed that it was difficult to continue our relationship until 2022 and we decided to terminate the contract”Said Youssef Hussein, director of the EAR national teams.

Read also: “My adventure in Colombia is coming to an end”: Queiroz

The Colombian coach landed in Arab territory in the middle of the pandemic and began to work with the team, and according to Futbolred, “Faced with the impossibility of playing games, the Santander made double-shift work cycles, to get to know the players he had available in the country.”

The sports medium also assured that “Apparently, that workload, typical of Pinto, was not liked by the players and the complaints began”.

But despite the malaise of the selected team, what triggered the exit were the results, since Emirates lost two of the three friendly matches it played under Pinto’s direction: 1-3 against Bahrain and 1-2 against Uzbekistan. They only won one match against Tajikistan that ended 3-2 in favor of the Arab squad.

Youssef Hussein, assured at a press conference that The replacement of the Colombian will soon be announced, although the Futbolred portal states that it is the Croatian Zoran Mamic.

“It was difficult to fulfill my mission with the national team due to various circumstances, including a difference of point of view”, said Jorge Luis Pinto on Blu Radio.

Through a statement, the coach pointed out that the break had taken place on friendly terms:

“I spoke with the officials of the Football Association and they understood my position, and it was agreed between us to terminate the contract amicably. I wish success to the UAE national team, who have a great place in my heart. “.

At the same time, the technical director announced his good wishes for the Arab team:

“I had big dreams of reaching the World Cup with the Emirates, and I hope that happens with another coach.”

Pinto replaced the Serbian Ivan Jovanović in the position, who led the Arab national team only a few months between December 2019 and April 2020, then he was dismissed without managing even a match.

The Colombian coach was appointed best coach of Concacaf (North America, Central America and the Caribbean) in 2014 and his career began to gain great recognition when managed to lead Costa Rica to the quarterfinals of the Soccer World Cup which took place in the same year.

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