Iniesta not happy in UAE

Caretaker March 12, 2024

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: "Within the difficulties, the idea of achieving what we came here to do still fulfills me: to try to change the club, improve it so that it can take steps forward and find a stability not just for this season but in the future. Of course this league is not comparable to other leagues: it needs changes, it need to improve, and that's the role I came to play. I want to focus on what I can do. It is proving harder than we imagined when we came."

Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta has admitted he is not enjoying his current stint with UAE Pro League side Emirates Club.

Iniesta made the move to Emirates Club in August after departing Japanese club Vissel Kobe. However, the World Cup winner, who will turn 40 in May, has struggled with his new team, as they currently sit at the bottom of the table with just five points and one league win this season.

In an interview with ESPN, Iniesta expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation, stating, “If you ask: ‘are you enjoying it?’ I would say ‘no.’ I have the hope and the motivation to change that, but I am not enjoying it because we’re not winning.”

Despite the challenges, Iniesta remains focused on improving the club’s situation. He emphasized his commitment to helping his teammates, the club, and learning from the experience to benefit in the future. He also acknowledged the need for changes and improvements in the league.

He added: “Within the difficulties, the idea of achieving what we came here to do still fulfills me: to try to change the club, improve it so that it can take steps forward and find a stability not just for this season but in the future. Of course this league is not comparable to other leagues: it needs changes, it need to improve, and that’s the role I came to play. I want to focus on what I can do. It is proving harder than we imagined when we came.”

Although Iniesta has won numerous accolades throughout his career, including all major honors in the game, he’s not ready to retire yet. However, his current one-year contract with Emirates Club might mark his final campaign before retirement.

Despite the difficulties, Iniesta recently achieved a significant milestone, making his 1,000th senior career appearance in a UAE Pro League clash against Ajman earlier this month.