UAE coach Edgardo Bauza believes he would have had a better chance at leading the UAE to the World Cup if he had been appointed earlier.
“If I had started training earlier I would have had a great opportunity of qualifying for the World Cup in Russia,” said Bauza, as quoted by the Gulf News.
“I seek to build a strong team and prepare it for the challenges ahead, starting with the Gulf Cup and then the Asian Cup,” he added.
The Argentine has failed to guide his side to Russia next summer after the disappointing 1-0 defeat to Iraq in their final Group B qualifier.
Bauza has taken the UAE coaching position from Mahdi Ali in May after getting sacked by the Argentina national team a month ago.
The 59-year-old was given three qualifying matches to rescue the UAE from a dismal performance at World Cup qualifying campaign, but ultimately it proved too difficult a task.