Paulo Bento warns UAE it would be big mistake to underestimate Tajikistan in Asian Cup

UAE manager Paulo Bento has warned his side it would be a “big mistake” to underestimate Asian Cup last-16 opponents Tajikistan, while he would not confirm if Ali Mabkhout is back in contention to feature for the team.

The UAE, semi-finalists in the past two tournaments, take on the cup debutants at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan on Sunday with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

Bento’s side qualified for the knockouts by finishing second to Iran in Group C, although they did require goal difference to seal an automatic spot.

Tajikistan, meanwhile, have been one of the stories of the tournament in Qatar. Drawn in Group A with hosts and defending champions Qatar, they secured a place in the last 16 by defeating Lebanon 2-1 on Monday to also take second spot.

However, the UAE still go into the match as favourites, even if Bento was keen on Saturday to play down that tag.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, the Portuguese said: “Tajikistan are with a good motivation, because in the first time they come [to the tournament], they reach the knockout stage.

“But their motivation should not be higher than our motivation. We reached the first goal in this competition as well – to go to the knockout stage.

“We know that the game will be difficult, a balanced game. And I at least don’t consider our team favourites. We need to do many, many things well in order to go through to the quarter-final.

“And if we think that, because [Tajikistan] are for the first time in the competition, it's a team has less possibilities to win the game than us, we are making a big mistake.